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Volume CXXXII, Number 19 |
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Joel Moser '04 wins prestigious Truman Scholarship award
HANNAH DEAN
STAFF WRITER
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| Joel Moser '04 is one of 76 students nationwide to receive the prestigious Truman scholarship. (Courtesy of Joel Moser) |
N. Joel Moser has recently become the thirteenth Bowdoin College student in history to be selected as a Truman Scholar. Truman scholars are elected on the basis of leadership potential, intellectual ability, and likelihood of "making a difference." The 76 scholars of 2003 were chosen from among 635 candidates nominated by 305 colleges and universities across the country.
A strong advocate of youth activism, Moser is vocal about political issues including rural health care policy, world perceptions of President Bush's "War on Terror," and terrorism in general. Furthermore, throughout his Bowdoin career, Moser has been actively involved. "During my freshman and sophomore years at Bowdoin," said Moser "I worked for a Congressional campaign that was devoted to raising national attention to the health care crisis in Maine and the United States.
I personally saw how profound and astonishingly complex the crisis is. Perhaps the most moving memory on the campaign trail was helping a frail, mentally-ill elderly woman pull open a cargo elevator so that she could find her way back to her room. The home in which she lived was understaffed and the signs of budgetary neglect quickly became palpable for me. The campaign was a major part of my life for over 14 months and helped spark my interest in rural public health policy."
More recently, and as a result of the current issues with terrorism, Moser has taken a greater interest in the international community and terrorism. Consequently, he decided to "travel abroad to try to better understand this conflict and its implications." Moser hoped to gain a better understanding of the international view of America as a result of recent events and, having lived in Berlin, Germany ,since September he has witnessed first hand "the gradual erosion of the trans-Atlantic relationships and the growing resentment in Europe of U.S. policy."
Moser further said, "my studies have even led me to a village in central Turkey that was about 350 miles from the Iraqi border, as well as to Bulgaria, Romania and almost all of Eastern Europe. I am not exactly sure what the end result of my research here will be, but I am seriously considering it as a topic for future graduate study."
Currently attending the Humboldt Universität and the Freie Universität through the International Education of Students program in Berlin, Moser hopes to attend law school in a joint law and public policy degree program and is considering attending law school at Columbia or Harvard, as well as the University of Maine School of Law and the Muskie School of Public Service because of their concentrations in rural health care policy.
Commenting on being selected as a Truman Scholar, Moser said, "It is by far the greatest honor I have ever received. The fact that I was chosen as a Truman Scholar is a deeply humbling experience."
However, behind his accomplishments, there is also the friend and companion that Moser has been to fellow Bowdoin students throughout his years at Bowdoin.
Emily Scott '04, a long time friend of Moser said, "He is incredibly loyal and loves to play pranks."
In addition to being a talented political mind, Scott commented that Moser "can do hilarious impressions of people, including Bowdoin administrators."
"Joel keeps you on your toes," said Scott. "You never know when he'll surprise you or how, but you can bet that he will eventually."
Each Truman Scholarship receives $30,000 for the student's senior year, and $27,000 for graduate study.
Scholars also receive priority admission and supplemental financial aid at some premiere graduate institutions, as well as leadership training, career and graduate school counseling, and special internship opportunities within the federal government.
The Truman Scholarship Foundation was established by Congress in 1975 as the federal memorial to our 33rd president, Harry S. Truman. The Foundation awards scholarships for college students to attend graduate school in preparation for careers in government or elsewhere in the public sector.
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