UCO Announces 2025 Truman Scholarship Student Nominees
Feb. 26, 2025
University of Central Oklahoma students Elena Wright and Lillie Taylor have been selected as finalists for the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, a living memorial to President Harry S. Truman and a national monument to public service, announced 201 students from 137 U.S. colleges and universities, including Wright and Taylor, as 2025 Truman Scholar nominees. Wright and Taylor were selected from 743 candidates from 288 colleges and universities. They are two of five nominees selected from Oklahoma colleges and universities.
"We are honored to have two outstanding University of Central Oklahoma students named finalists for this prestigious scholarship," said UCO President Todd G. Lamb.
"Elena and Lillie embody the Broncho spirit—dedicated, driven and exceptional. Their achievement is a testament to the high-quality education and transformative opportunities UCO provides."
Taylor is a senior majoring in education – theatre/communication and theatre arts – performance from Independence, Kansas.
“It is an honor to be named a 2025 Truman Scholar finalist. Because of the academic experiences, leadership training and mentorship I’ve experienced at UCO, I am determined to make a difference in my community through a career in public service,” Taylor said.
Wright is a junior majoring in biology and forensic science from Carthage, Missouri.
“Being selected as a finalist for the Truman Scholarship is an honor. It is my hope, moving forward, that if selected as a recipient, I will be able to give back to my community and effect notable change that will benefit many,” Wright said.
Wright and Taylor will interview with the Regional Review panel in March, which will determine the 2025 Truman Scholars.
The Truman Scholarship is the premier graduate scholarship for aspiring public service leaders. Each Truman Scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the U.S. federal government.
UCO has had four Truman Scholars since 1979. The most recent was awarded to Beyonce Hammond in 2022.
For more information about the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, visit truman.gov.
For more information about UCO, visit www.uco.edu.
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Individual headshot of Elena Wright.
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Individual headshot of Lillie Taylor.
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Cutline: Two students from the University of Central Oklahoma, Elena Wright and Lillie Taylor, have been selected as finalists for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship. Taylor is a senior majoring in education -theatre/communication and theatre arts – performance from Independence, Kansas. Wright is a junior majoring in biology and forensic science from Carthage, Missouri.
Devan Wielgos