March 26, 2008

Contact:   Rachel Andoga

by Rachel Andoga

Truman Scholarship winner Richmond Blake

Richmond Blake ’09, a Davidson College junior from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has received a national Harry S. Truman Scholarship for his exceptional leadership potential and dedication to service.

The Truman Scholarship recognizes college juniors with outstanding leadership who are committed to pursuing careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education, or other public service. The Scholarship acts as a living memorial for President Harry S. Truman, who was dedicated to promoting young leaders educated in citizenship and responsibility. Each scholarship provides up to $30,000 for graduate education along with training in leadership, career and graduate school counseling, and special internship opportunities within the federal government.

Described by the Truman Scholarship Foundation as future “change-agents” of America, recipients of the Truman Scholarship are characterized not only by their strong backgrounds in public service and academics, but also by a dedication to making a difference, a quality Blake definitely possesses. “The United States has its problems,” he said, “but at its core, I see a humanitarian state on a huge mission. I want to be a part of that and help create change in the world.”

Chosen from a pool of hundreds of college juniors competing for roughly 80 awards, Blake is the fourth Davidson student to be honored as a Truman Scholar, following in the footsteps of the Hon. Robert C. Ervin '82, Donald J. Snell '90, and Jennifer Lynn McGrady '92.

The Truman Scholarship Foundation isn’t the only organization to notice Blake’s exceptional commitment to service. Last May, Blake received one of 20 annual U.S. State Department Pickering Undergraduate Foreign Affairs Fellowships, an award that prepares students for their eventual entrance into the State Department for a four-and-a-half year appointment as a Foreign Service Officer. He also received Davidson College's McGaw Scholarship as a rising junior in recognition of his excellent academic credentials, strong leadership, and potential to make positive contributions to society.

Blake’s personal aspirations are to promote democracy around the world as a Foreign Service Officer, especially through the support of human rights. “To be the most effective, you have to pursue something that you’re passionate about—for me, that’s human rights. Issues of human rights are everywhere, and permeate every part of the world. I would love to be a U.S. representative who encourages legislation that affects women or religious minorities,” he said.

Blake’s passion for international affairs began at an early age through his father’s work with Presbyterian missionaries. “My parents have always been very service-minded, and I think that had a big impact on me. My dad worked for the Presbyterian Church Foundation, so it wasn’t uncommon for my parents to be discussing their work at home, or for missionaries to be over for dinner at the house. Talking to people like that at such a young age definitely helped spark my interest. Service has always been a very open topic for discussion in my family.”

With the Truman Scholarship helping to secure his future, Blake will spend his summer pursuing the next stage of his Pickering Fellowship by way of a seven-week program at a graduate school with a focus on public policy and international affairs. The summer institute will include course work in economics, calculus and policy analysis, with an emphasis in developing oral and written communication skills.

Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,700 students. Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.

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