Alec Schierenbeck '09 has been awarded the Truman Scholarship, a $30,000 nationally competitive graduate study scholarship sponsored by the Harry S. Truman Foundation.

Schierenbeck, political science major from Brooklyn, N.Y., led the College and Young Democrats of Iowa during the Iowa caucuses. He is currently serving an internship in the Iowa Legislature and continues to work as the heartland regional director of the College Democrats of America.

Schierenbeck's career goal is to address issues of economic mobility and income distribution through policy-making that increases economic opportunities.

During summer 2006, Schierenbeck worked as a communications assistant for the U.N. Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor.

The Truman Scholarship Foundation awards financial support for graduate study to college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to making a difference through public service careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere. The Foundation honors the memory of Harry S. Truman, 33rd president of the U.S.