Kohawk’s DEDICATION and INVOLVEMENT leads to Truman Scholarship fnalist designation

On campus, Max Gorden Mercer ’24 can be found just about everywhere. This past academic year, he served as the student body treasurer, Student Activities Committee business chair, CoeVotes president, Alpha Phi Omega vice president of leadership, a resident assistant and a peer tutor. Of campus, he volunteers at Willis Dady and is a Coe representative in United Way of East Central Iowa’s Board Orientation and Leadership Development Program.

Being involved is a way of life for him, so he added another endeavor to his busy schedule — the rigorous application process for the prestigious Truman graduate fellowship. The $30,000 award is for those pursuing careers in public service.

Nationwide, only 705 students completed the process this year, which includes seven essays and a detailed policy proposal. Gorden Mercer was among the 199 students shortlisted as a fnalist — the only fnalist who attends a college or university in Iowa.

“It means a lot to be recognized on a national level,” Gorden Mercer said. “Being named a Truman fnalist has solidifed my path in public service and I have been able to connect with so many people making real change in the public sector because of it.”

As a public accounting and business administration major, Gorden Mercer is planning to pursue a master of public afairs with a concentration in nonproft management with the goal of working with nonprofts on properly funding social services.

Gorden Mercer joined Kohawks Angelina Ramirez ’22, Larissa Alire ’20, Kelly May ’19 and Briana Gipson ’19 as Coe fnalists in the last six years. Alire and May both were awarded a Truman Scholarship.