Undergraduate receives prestigious public service award

Jeremy Sueker, a junior majoring in international relations and community health, has won a prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship. The award recognizes Sueker’s leadership and community service, including the founding of the Tufts HIV and AIDS Collaborative. It is the highest honor a U.S. college student seeking a career in public service can receive.

Dean of Students Bruce Reitman congratulates Truman Scholar Jeremy Sueker, A06, as Jim Glaser, dean of undergraduate education, looks on. © Melody Ko

This year, 75 students were selected from 602 candidates nominated by 299 colleges and universities. The last time that Tufts had a Truman Scholar was in 1994. The award provides $30,000 toward graduate study.

Truman Scholarships recognize exceptional college juniors who are committed to seeking leadership positions in federal, state or local governments or in the nonprofit and educational sectors where they can influence public policy.

Among Sueker’s many activities, he traveled to Zimbabwe during his freshman year as a member of Tufts’ EPIIC (Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship) program to perform field work on food politicization. As a Tufts Summer Scholar, he conducted research/data collection about the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. His policy proposal (which each candidate must submit) centered on preventing and controlling HIV and AIDS in the prison population.