Josh Phoebus, a junior at Elon majoring in political science and international studies, is one of 202 finalists nationwide for a Harry S. Truman Scholarship. He will be interviewed by a regional panel on Feb. 28 in Washington, D.C.
The Truman Scholarship Foundation is the official federal memorial to Harry S. Truman, the 33rd U.S. president. The foundation will award approximately 80 scholarships in 2001, each worth $30,000, to undergraduate students whose career goals include work in government, the non-profit sector, or other public service. The scholarship money is to be used for graduate or professional school work to prepare students for public service careers. Students must be juniors in the top 25 percent of their class to be considered for the Truman Scholarship. More than 800 students are nominated each year.
Phoebus, a native of Westminster, Md., is the son of Judith and Craig Walker of Westminster, and Douglas Phoebus of Severn, Md. He was nominated for the scholarship by Chalmers Brumbaugh, professor of political science and Elon’s Truman faculty representative. As part of the application process, Phoebus also submitted a detailed policy proposal. In it, he argues for an $81.7 million increase for the Economic Support Fund, which promotes democracy, peace and economic stability in foreign countries.
“In his class discussion, his papers and his exam answers, Josh was so thorough and thoughtful that he was in a class by himself,” Brumbaugh wrote in nominating Phoebus for the scholarship. “With reference to his academic maturity and research ability, I would place him in the top two percent of students I have taught in over 25 years of college teaching.”
Phoebus is executive vice president of Elon’s Student Government Association and treasurer of Pi Sigma Alpha, Elon’s political science honor society.
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