Mercyhurst junior Marley Ramon named university’s first Truman Scholar

Truman Scholar award winner Marley Ramon and President Getz outside in the Mary Garden, posing for a picture

Mercyhurst University junior Marley Ramon has been named a 2024 Truman Scholar by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, recognized as one of the nation’s most prestigious academic awards.

Established by Congress in 1975 as a living memorial to President Harry S. Truman and national monument to public service, the Truman Scholarship carries the legacy of our 33rd President by supporting and inspiring the next generation of public service leaders.

Mercyhurst President Kathleen A. Getz, Ph.D., and Dr. Justin Ross, director of the Honors & Prestigious Awards programs, conveyed the good news to Ramon on Tuesday, surprising her in her sculpture class. The recognition is historic in that it marks the first time a Mercyhurst student has earned the coveted award. This year, the foundation selected 60 students out of 709 applicants.

“Marley’s award is a declaration of her scholarship and public service mindset, and we are proud of the leadership she has provided,” Getz said. “This is also an affirmation of the outstanding academic opportunities available to Mercyhurst University students.”

Ramon, from New Mexico, is double majoring in Political Science and Studio Art and minoring in Creative Writing. She intends to use the scholarship to attend law school in her quest to become a federal judge. 

Among her collegiate pursuits, Ramon is an active member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and Phi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society, as well as serves on the President’s Advisory Council for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice and the University Mission Revision Committee. She is also an adviser and mentor to Erie’s delegation of the Pennsylvania Youth and Government Program, a member of the women’s water polo team, and a chief editor of the university’s literary publication, Lumen.

In high school, she was a 2020 National Merit Finalist and 2020 National Hispanic Scholar, as well as was widely recognized by state and national organizations for her academic and pre-professional accomplishments. She interned for the Democratic Party of New Mexico and a law firm and served as an apprentice for the Air Force Research Labs Career Stream Program. 

Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school. This May, Ramon will attend the Truman Scholars Leadership Week held at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. The new Scholars will participate in seminars and workshops with distinguished Truman Scholars and other public service leaders, engage in a group exercise about policy implementation, and attend a graduate school and career fair with representatives from the schools and programs most attended by Truman Scholars. 

"I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be named a Truman Scholar and the chance to represent Mercyhurst,” Ramon said. “I cannot wait for the policy week this summer to learn from so many amazing individuals."

Ramon joins an elite community of 3,504 Truman Scholars named since the first awards in 1977, which includes United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch (1987), Senator Chris Coons (1983), Representatives Dusty Johnson (1998), Andy Kim (2003), Tom Malinowski (1985), and former Arizona Governor and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano (1994).

PHOTO: Marley Ramon is congratulated by Mercyhurst President Kathy Getz.