U of A Student, Arkansas Native Skylar Caldwell Selected as Truman Finalist

Photo by University Relations

Skylar Caldwell

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas student Skylar Caldwell of Harrison was recently named a finalist for the 2018 Harry S. Truman Scholarship. Caldwell, a junior, is an honors international studies and political science major in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

“Skylar Caldwell is an exceptional student, and in keeping with the Truman Scholarship tradition, he will be an agent of change,” said Todd Shields, dean of Fulbright College. “He specifically wants to make a difference in this state and hopes to work throughout his career to strengthen local economies, expand educational opportunities, and address health issues. He will definitely make a difference for Arkansas in the not too distant future.”

Caldwell’s selection as a Truman Finalist places him among the top students in the nation. Truman Scholars are selected based on their records of leadership and academic achievement, as well as a commitment to a career in public service. This year’s finalists were chosen out of 756 applicants from 313 institutions. Recipients of the Truman Scholarship receive $30,000 in scholarship funds for graduate education; winners of this year’s competition will be announced in mid-April.

 After completing his undergraduate studies, Caldwell plans to pursue a master’s degree in public policy and return to his home state to help shape policy initiatives that foster economic development in the Arkansas Ozarks and the Arkansas Delta.

“It is a great honor to have been selected as a 2018 Truman Finalist,” Caldwell said. “The Truman experience thus far has been both challenging and inspiring. The application process has encouraged a deep examination of my skills and ambitions and has solidified my goal of earning a master’s in public policy. With an M.P.P. in hand, I intend to research and create policies that aid in the economic and social development of the Ozark Mountains and greater rural America.”

Caldwell received an Honors College Study Abroad Grant to support his participation in a faculty-led trip to Vietnam. While there, he studied global rural development and helped create cost-savings measures for farmers. He has also been a member of the Razorback Action Group and the Razorback Marching Band. In the summer of 2017, he worked as a mayoral intern for the city of Berryville, helping to facilitate the development of a rural water district. Throughout high school and college, he has volunteered on several local and state-level political campaigns.

University of Arkansas students who are interested in applying for the Truman Scholarship should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.