LAS VEGAS - The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation named UNLV student Michael Dakduk as a 2010 Truman Scholar - a prestigious honor given to students who excel in academics and exhibit exemplary leadership skills.
Dakduk, a junior majoring in public administration, was chosen from among 576 candidates nominated by 245 colleges and universities for the competitive scholarship. The Truman Scholarship Foundation recently announced that 60 scholars were chosen and each will receive $30,000 for graduate study. Dakduk plans to pursue a master's degree in public administration or a law degree for a career in public policy.
A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Dakduk served as a sergeant in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He is vice president of the national Student Veterans of America organization and helped establish a UNLV chapter of the Student Veterans of America. He was instrumental in securing a veterans' memorial soon to be built at UNLV.
"It is clear from his background that Michael Dakduk brings credibility to his policy concerns, and has used that status in the veterans' community to accomplish important results, both large and small," said Peter Starkweather, dean of the UNLV Honors College. "This provides strength and effectiveness as a leader."
Dakduk is a native Las Vegan and graduated from Rancho High School. In any capacity, Dakduk says helping veterans - especially during the transition from combat to civilian life - will remain his life's work.
"There are visible and invisible wounds of war. I firmly believe that higher education is the way to ensuring the success of our young military veterans as future leaders of our community, state and country," said Dakduk, 24. "There's a great responsibility now and more responsibility on my shoulders. I have to work harder on behalf of the issues I am passionate about."
The U.S. Congress established the Truman Scholarship Foundation in 1975 for college students to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or in public service. A special trust fund in the U.S. Treasury supports the foundation. Since the first awards were made in 1977, 2,730 Truman Scholars have been selected.
According to The Truman Scholarship Foundation, 16 independent selection panels chose scholars based on "leadership potential, intellectual ability and likelihood of making a difference." The criteria included students who are in the top quarter of their class and committed to careers in the government or not-for-profit sectors. Scholars also receive priority admission and supplemental financial aid at some premier graduate institutions, leadership training, career and graduate school counseling and special internship opportunities within the federal government.
The 2010 Truman Scholars will receive their awards May 30 at the Truman Library in Independence, Mo. A listing of the 2010 Scholars and more information is available at The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation Web site.
