USD Junior Josh Sorbe Selected as Truman Scholar
Sorbe, a Brookings native and a political science and economics double major, is USD’s 17th awardee since the scholarship’s inception in 1975. Sorbe is a member of the swimming and diving team and a past Student Government Association president.
The Truman Scholarship is a federal memorial to Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States. In addition to the $30,000 scholarship for graduate student, each Truman Scholar receives priority admission and supplemental financial aid at leading graduate institutions, leadership training, career and graduate school counseling and special internship opportunities within the federal government.
A total of 62 college juniors from across the nation were selected as new Truman Scholars. There was a total of 840 candidates nominated by 346 colleges and universities, the largest number of applicants from a record number of schools in recent history.
“We are incredibly proud of Josh. He has already made such an impact on our university as well as the state,” said President Sheila K. Gestring. “Being awarded this scholarship is testament to who he is as a person and how dedicated he is to serving our community.”
Since arriving at USD, Sorbe has served three terms on the Student Government Association, most recently serving as president. He interned for former United States Representative Tim Walz in Washington, D.C., and he worked for USD alumnus and Ramsey County Manager Ryan O’Connor (’06) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He now serves as executive director of the South Dakota Student Federation.
Sorbe is also the student representative of the South Dakota Regental Institutions to the governor’s office, the Board of Regents and the state legislature. Throughout his collegiate career, he has competed for the men’s swimming and diving team – earning All-Summit League honors twice and breaking two school records – and will compete in his final season for the Coyotes next school year.
Upon graduation, Sorbe plans to first become a public school teacher. He explained that in order to improve policy, he must experience the needs in education first-hand.
“This process showed me the origin of my drive for public service: my South Dakota public high school and my K-12 teachers in the Brookings School District,” Sorbe said. “They inspired and helped build a leader that believes in himself, and I want to dedicate my career to helping young kids like me at the frontlines and eventually from the boardroom. I love South Dakota – rural America is worth an investment, and public education is the place to do it.”
Watch as Sorbe receives the news that he was awarded the Truman Scholarship.
You May Also Like
Third Academic All-America honor for Duffy
AUSTIN, Texas — South Dakota senior guard Ciara Duffy was one of five Division I women's basketball players selected to the Academic All-America first team selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Duffy earns Academic All-America honors for the third consecutive season.
