March 30, 2009

Contact:   John Syme

Darrell Scott '10 has received a scholarship to pursue a career in government or public service.

Darrell Scott ’10, a sociology major from Little Rock, Ark., 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 honors 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.

“My thoughts on public service stem from childhood,” Scott said. “It was just a question of what made sense in terms of how to be of service in my home, in my school, in my community, in Little Rock.”

Scott won a John Montgomery Belk Scholarship to come to Davidson. The Belk is a full, four-year merit scholarship that recognizes exceptional accomplishment and promise. He was soon busy living up to that promise, involved with Student Government Association and the Black Student Coalition, among other campus organizations. In 2006, he helped organize a panel discussion on the Jena Six racial conflicts in Louisiana. The passion of those discussions soon snowballed into a student trip to Jena, La.

“By the end of the night, we had more than 40 students ready to get on a bus,” recalled Scott, who co-produced a documentary video of the trip with Austin Bell ’10. “It was a very different experience for Davidson students. You’ve got to keep things fresh, you’ve got to keep things creative, and you’ve got to keep bringing new ideas.”

Scott credits his mom for raising him with a ready sense of leadership in community service, credits high school mentors for encouraging him on the path, and credits professors and fellow students at Davidson for “cultivating my leadership.”

Even if he had not won the Truman, Scott said he found the application process a very constructive exercise at this point in his college career: “The application is so comprehensive, you are forced to think about what you want to do and why.”

One thing he already knew he wanted to do was to go to California this summer: Scott is among 30 students nationwide accepted into a seven-week summer institute at the University of California Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy.

His longer term prospects are focused on making a difference through strong social policy, too. “I see myself driving local social policy changes that can have macro effects on distressed communities, whether it be an education, labor, or nonprofit route,” Scott said. “I'm forever grateful to all the people who have bestowed their pearls of wisdom on me!”

Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,700 students located 20 minutes north of Charlotte in Davidson, N.C. 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. Through The Davidson Trust, the college became the first liberal arts institution in the nation to replace loans with grants in all financial aid packages, giving all students the opportunity to graduate debt-free. Davidson competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level, and a longstanding Honor Code is central to student life at the college.
  

Posted By: Bill Giduz