For the first time in Grand Valley State University history, two GVSU students, juniors Chris Gale and Aubrey McMahan, have been selected as Harry S. Truman Scholarship finalists.

Gale and McMahan are two of the 197 finalists selected from 602 students nation-wide who applied for the competitive Truman Scholarship.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship is a $30,000 federal scholarship granted to college juniors that demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to public service. Recipients of this scholarship are students that have the potential during the course of their careers to improve the ways that public entities and nonprofit organizations serve the public good.

Gale, a public administration and nonprofit management major with a business minor, went through the process of the Truman Scholarship with hopes at finding work for a national nonprofit doing human services or youth development. Now, Gale is looking into other opportunities to do public service. He said he hopes to end up wherever he can make a difference and help people.

A nontraditional student, Gale graduated high school in 2000 when, taking a seven-year break from student life, he said he found out college was not in his cards.

“By me being able to push the reset button on my life and do things the right way the second time, that is what brought me to Truman,” Gale said. “I have a new vigor for my studies. I am doing something that I really feel passionate about and also my priorities are different because it is not just about me anymore. It is about my family and increasing opportunities for my kids.”

Gale works for the Boys and Girls Club in Holland as a middle school program leader. Gale has a passion for cultivating youth to help them reach their potential and increase the opportunities for underserved and minority groups throughout the U.S.

“A couple of things that I hope to get from this scholarship,” Gale said. “First is the money. The scholarship helps you pay for grad school. Second, it is a huge network. Truman Scholars are people who are really moving to shake things in the public service. I would hope to plug in to that kind of a network. But for me, it is an honor even to have made it to this finalist process.”

GVSU’s other finalist, McMahan, is an international relations major with minors in German, Middle Eastern studies and legal studies. McMahan plans to go into the Foreign Service and eventually aspires to become an ambassador. Last year, McMahan interned at the U.S Embassy in Vienna and for the Canadian Federal Government.

“The application process for the Truman Scholarship was long, but it was really good self-reflection,” she said. “Through researching all of the specifics my field, I finally feel really comfortable, and I am not worried about how things are going.”

McMahan is an on-campus RA, an intercultural mentor and is looking into getting involved with the Interfaith board. She is a partner for the ESL program and volunteers at Women At Risk. McMahan is also apart of the Model Arab League.

“I didn’t realize how big of a deal the Truman Scholarship was,” McMahan said. “Not until I came back to school and I discovered that Chris and I were the first Truman finalists at GVSU. It added a little bit of pressure because we were basically leading the way for GVSU, putting our foot in the door for potential Truman scholars. For me, the Truman Scholarship is about the connection. Once you become a member, you are a member for life. The money will definitely help too for graduate school.”

Between 60-65 finalists will be chosen to be Scholars and will be announced at the end of March.

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