MACON, Ga. — Mercer University junior Harris Wallace was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Truman Scholarship, which is one of the most prestigious scholarships for juniors who want a career in public service.
“Discovering my passion for public service has been a core part of my time at Mercer,” Wallace said. “I would not be receiving this honor were it not for the support of all my mentors in the classroom, on campus and at home.”
Students were nominated by their institution based on their records of leadership, public service and academic achievement, and the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation reviewed 781 files from 305 institutions. The Finalist Selection Committee selected 198 students from 136 institutions as finalists who interviewed with the Foundation’s Regional Review Panels. For 2026, 55 college students from 48 institutions were selected as Truman Scholars.
“Harris Wallace has been a shining star since he arrived on the Mercer campus in 2023,” said Dr. Chris Grant, professor and chair of the political science department. “His passion for civic engagement is exemplary, and his efforts show that the next generation of Americans is ready to take on leadership roles.”
From Lilburn, Wallace is a philosophy, politics and economics major. He is a Presidential Fellow, associate chief justice in the Office of Student Conduct Resolution, career peer coordinator in the Center for Career and Professional Development, a Stamps Scholar, president of Mercer Young Democrats and a Democracy Fellow with Mercer Votes.
“I have had the pleasure to facilitate two engaged learning trips that Harris participated in — Mercer On Mission to the Republic of Georgia in 2024 and a field trip to observe and participate in the campaigns of presidential contenders in New Hampshire in 2024,” said Dr. Grant. “He was a delightful group member, and I was amazed by his energy and curiosity.”
After graduation, Wallace plans to pursue a master’s degree in public administration and eventually run for elected office.
About the Truman Scholarship
Established by Congress in 1975 as the living memorial to President Harry S. Truman and a national monument to public service, the Truman Scholarship carries the legacy of the 33rd President by supporting and inspiring the next generation of public service leaders. When approached by a bipartisan group of admirers near the end of his life, President Truman embodied this commitment to the future of public service by asking Congress to create a living memorial devoted to this purpose, rather than a traditional brick-and-mortar monument. For almost fifty years, the Truman Foundation has fulfilled that mission: inspiring and supporting Americans from across the country.
