A xel Hawkins, a history major from McDonough, Georgia, is Georgia College & State University's second Truman Scholar in as many years.

Established in 1975, the Truman Scholarship serves as a living memorial to Harry S. Truman. The foundation awards scholarships to exceptional college juniors who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to public service and academic excellence.

Hawkins’ receipt of the scholarship makes back-to-back winners and four Truman finalists in the last five years from Georgia College.

“We are thrilled that Axel has been named a Truman Scholar. She represents Georgia College & State University so well as a student leader and has already shown such commitment to public service. This will be a tremendous opportunity for her continuing journey on that path,” said GCSU President Cathy Cox.

“Her selection makes two consecutive years that Georgia College students have been named Truman Scholars—a truly amazing feat for our university,” Cox said. “Congratulations to Axel and the amazing support team she had from our Sallstrom Honors College guiding her in every step of the nomination process.”

This year, the 60 new Truman Scholars were selected from 709 candidates. Hawkins was also the only student with Georgia as their home state, making her Georgia’s 2024 Truman Scholar. 

 

Last year, senior Colin Hall, a political science major from Jones County, was named the first Truman Scholar in Georgia College history.

“I think this is a good demonstration of our ability to produce strong leaders,” said GCSU National Scholarships Office Coordinator Anna Whiteside. “This really speaks to our ability to produce students who adhere to our value of the pursuit of knowledge and truth for the public good.”

Ready to engage her first year at Georgia College, Hawkins joined the Student Government Association as soon as she started classes and began the work to improve life for her fellow students. Now elected as the upcoming SGA President, Hawkins will continue enacting changes to their benefit.

Off campus, Hawkins believes in solving labor issues and is passionate about worker’s rights. Like her experience on campus, she’s actively involved and travels back and forth from the capitol to lobby for this cause.

“Georgia College really invested in me, and I’m very thankful for everybody,” Hawkins said. “I’m just overwhelmed by the people in my life who have supported me the whole way, and I’m very honored that I was selected.”

 

Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate school and participate in leadership development activities, including the Truman Scholars Leadership Week in Liberty, Missouri.

Truman Scholars also have special opportunities for internships and employment with the federal government, including the Truman Summer institute, which places scholars in internships in Washington D.C. the summer following their senior year. 

“This is very emotional for me,” Hawkins said. “I’m a first-generation college student, and my father couldn’t afford to pay the difference of his undergraduate scholarship, so this is a very full-circle moment for my entire family.”