It may feel comparable to winning an Academy Award, but this distinguished prize is designed for college students who will be attending graduate school to pursue a career in government or public service.

Two Iowa State students are competing against students across the nation for the Truman Scholarship, named after Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president. It has been eight years since an ISU student has been a recipient of the award.

“This scholarship, along with the Rhodes and Marshall [scholarships], are among the most prestigious,” said Trent Preszler, one of ISU’s candidates. “Students who are battling for the scholarship are regarded as the top 30 most promising government leaders and future public servants in the United States.”

The Truman Scholarship is a $30,000 merit-based scholarship given to one student from each state. In addition, up to three students from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands will be selected.

There are 800 to 900 students nominated each year, and 75 to 80 will be selected as Truman Scholars by April 1. Currently, Preszler, senior in biology and interdisciplinary studies and Janet Uche Nnadi, senior in economics, are ISU’s finalists.

“All participants compete against students from their legal state of residence [where they are registered to vote],” Preszler said. “Since I am from South Dakota, I am not competing against those in Iowa.”

Preszler is up against three students from South Dakota, while Nnadi, from Nevada, is competing against seven students from Iowa.

According to the scholarship home page, at www.truman.gov, the criteria for selection include an extensive record of campus and community service, a commitment to a career in government, communication skills and probability of becoming someone who evokes change.

The student also should possess a strong academic record and the likelihood of being accepted to a first-rate graduate school.

Eligible students are nominated by their institution in a process conducted by the Truman Scholarship Faculty Representatives at their college or university.

“The application process is an incredibly hard process that consists of 10 essays,” Preszler said. “In the essays you are required to explain how you have affected and improved humanities through your work.”

Preszler has studied abroad in Mexico, Costa Rica and Belize, and he will be a Rotary Scholar at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland next year.

In 1996, he was vice president of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Council, and he currently serves as director of legislative affairs for the Government of the Student Body and as co-chairman of the Institute of World Affairs.

Nnadi has participated in a higher ground summer retreat to Paris and will be participating this summer in The American Economic Association Summer Program in Texas.

Nnadi has been active in leadership roles at ISU as well.

She is a specialist in the U.S. Army Reserves, a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society and president of the Economics Club.

Nnadi also is interim president of the ISU chapter of the Golden Key Society. Next semester she will assume the chapter’s vice presidential role.

Preszler said he will spend March 16 at the scholarship’s regional finals in Minneapolis, Minn. Students from South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa also will be present.

“In Minneapolis we will have an intense, high-pressure 20-minute interview with a panel of judges,” Preszler said. Nnadi was scheduled to join Preszler in Minnesota, but her interview was moved from March 16 to March 13.

According to Preszler, travel and boarding for the finals is paid by those who sponsor the scholarship. ISU Provost John Kozak also volunteered to cover the expenses.

Nnadi plans to attend graduate school at the University of California at Berkeley for her Ph.D. in economics.

Preszler said he plans to enter the Master of Public Policy Program in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. His emphasis will be in science policy and international affairs.