Two MIT juniors, Cameron McCord and Victoria Temitope Okuneye, have been honored with the prestigious Truman Scholarship for the year 2012. Each recipient will receive $30,000 to support their graduate studies aimed at careers in government or the non-profit sector.

Mccord, a dual major in nuclear engineering and physics, is also involved in the Gordon-MIT Engineering Leadership Program and a Navy ROTC unit. His past experiences include working at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Brookhaven National Laboratory, and he intends to focus on nuclear energy safety and nuclear nonproliferation in his future career.

Okuneye, majoring in brain and cognitive sciences with minors in applied international studies and chemistry, has been actively engaged in youth empowerment initiatives across the United States, Jamaica, and Mexico. She aims to become a physician-scientist at the intersection of science, medicine, and international development, specifically targeting mental health services for disadvantaged youth. At MIT, Okuneye holds positions such as associate director of MIT’s Global Poverty Initiative and an admissions intern focused on outreach to minority and low-income prospective applicants. Additionally, she conducts research on the neural basis of health decisions as part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).

In addition to the monetary award, Truman Scholars benefit from priority admission and supplemental financial aid at top-tier graduate institutions, leadership training, career and graduate school counseling, and special internship opportunities within the federal government. To qualify, recipients must be U.S. citizens, demonstrate outstanding leadership potential and communication skills, and rank in the top quarter of their class.

The Truman Scholarship was established by Congress in 1975 to support college students pursuing graduate education in preparation for careers in government or other forms of public service. The foundation operates under a special trust fund in the U.S. Treasury.

The full list of 2012 Truman Scholarship winners can be found on the official portal directly: official portal.

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