Truman Scholar Ready to Serve

Jeremy Schwarz is ready to serve his country no matter what. In addition to serving as a U.S. naval officer after graduation, he plans to further his career with future graduate studies made possible by a prestigious Truman Scholarship.

But first, in the fall, this NROTC senior will be stationed on the USS Hue City in Florida for a four-year tour of duty. As a surface warfare officer, he will be leading approximately 20 people in his division and will perform navigational, combat systems and engineering tasks.

“I always wanted to serve my country,” said Schwarz of his decision to join the ROTC program upon entering Fordham. “I thought it was an important part of being a citizen and it offered an opportunity to serve while attending college.”

Schwarz’s interest in public service also influenced his decision to major in history and minor in political science and American studies. “In my case, studying American history allows me to learn about who we are as Americans and what we are called to be as a nation,” he said. Aware of his interests and high academic achievement, a few of his professors encouraged him to apply for the prestigious Truman Scholarship, which he eventually received.

As a scholarship recipient, Schwarz will receive full funding for two years of graduate study dealing with public service, courtesy of the Harry S. Truman Foundation. Students are selected based on their academic excellence, leadership potential and commitment to public service. “I applied for a Truman Scholarship because I wanted to serve as an agent for progress through public service,” said Schwarz, who will defer use of the award until after he has finished his four-year commitment to the Navy. In the meantime, he will spend this summer interning and participating in seminars at the Brookings Institute, which sponsors programs on public service and government policy. “I’d like to familiarize myself with policy areas such as social security reform, health care reform and environmental management,” he said.

After completing his tour of duty on the USS Hue City, Schwarz plans to continue his education by pursuing a doctoral degree in either political science or American history. “The practical application of this degree is multifaceted. I could teach, do work for non-profits or work in various parts of government,” he said.

He is already gaining some very public rewards for his mental acumen. Last October, Schwarz was the national leader in the Hardball College Tour with Chris Matthews on MSNBC. When called to the “Hardball Hotseat,” Schwarz correctly answered 13 out of 19 questions within the 90 seconds allotted. Presently, he’s ranked third in the nation. If he wins the final round of the competition this summer, he will receive a $10,000 grant for graduate school. The championship will be broadcast on MSNBC in June.

However, despite this turn as a TV personality, Schwarz is focused on the part he will soon be playing in contributing something positive to his country.

“All of us have the ability to sacrifice ourselves for a greater cause and to become the ‘greatest generation,’” he says. “As our grandparents rose to the challenges and threats of the past, I’m confident that we, as a generation, can rise to the challenges of the future.”

— Keisha-Gaye Anderson

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