Four Kansas State University students have been nominated by the university to compete for $30,000 Harry S. Truman scholarships. If selected as Truman finalists, Aubrie Ohlde, Darcy Kern, Ben Champion and Leslie Small will interview in Kansas City between Feb 25 and March 15. Winners will be announced March 22.

Ben Champion, Olathe, is a senior in chemistry, natural resources and environmental sciences with minors in Spanish and political science. He is an Eagle Scout, a Kansas Honors Scholar, a K-State Putnam Scholar, a Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Scholar, as well as winner of June Hull Sherrid Biology Scholarship. He has been an environmental director on his residence hall floor and president of Students for Environmental Action at K-State. He is a member of Alpha Chi Sigma chemical fraternity and Golden Key National Honor Society. He ran intramural cross country in fall 1998. He also has been a soccer referee for the Johnson County Soccer Association. The son of Mike and Paula Champion, Olathe, he is a 1998 graduate of Olathe South High School.

Aubrie Ohlde, Palmer, is a senior in political science with a minor in leadership studies. She also is getting a secondary major in international studies and a minor in business administration. She is a 1998 graduate of Linn High School and a 1998 Kassebaum scholar at K-State. She was selected for Silver Key sophomore honorary, Chimes Junior honorary and is director of public relations for Blue Key National Honor Fraternity. She is a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She is a member of Student Alumni Board and has been active in the Student Governing Association for four years and an arts and sciences student senator for three. Last summer Ohlde interned in Washington, D.C., for Rep. Jerry Moran. a K-State Putnam Scholar and a National Elks Foundation Most Valuable Student. Her parents are Royce and Clarice Ohlde of Palmer.

Darcy Kern, Bakersfield, Calif., is a senior in history, Spanish and French with a minor in leadership studies. A 1998 graduate of Centennial High School, she is the daughter of Linda and Gary Kern. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society, Sigma Delta Pi Spanish honorary, Phi Alpha Theta history honorary, and Phi Eta Sigma honorary. She was a Phi Kappa Phi sophomore scholar and has been on the dean’s honor roll for the College of Arts and Sciences at K-State.

Kern also is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at K-State. She is a member of the Circle K service organization. She is a tutor for Educational Support Services and participates in the Conversational English program. She has studied in Mexico and in France. She interned for Sen. Pat Roberts in Washington, D.C.

Leslie Small, Lebanon, Ind., is a junior in agricultural economics with a minor in leadership studies. She was central region vice president of Future Farmers of America 1999-2000, a national office which gave her the opportunity to travel more than 100,000 miles in the United States to meet, educate and assist FFA members. She interned for John Deere in Germany during summer 2001 and belongs to Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She was selected for Silver Key sophomore honorary. She is a 1998 graduate of Arkansas City High School.

Truman scholarships can be used the senior year and for graduate studies. Scholars are selected primarily on the basis of leadership potential, including honesty, vision, sensitivity and communications skills; commitment to a career in public service; intellectual strength, analytical ability, and prospects of performing well in graduate school; and likelihood of "making a difference" in public service.

K-State is first in the nation among public universities in producing Truman Scholars since the program began in 1977 — 24 and one alternate. The Truman Foundation reports that only Yale University, Stanford University, Duke University, Harvard University, Radcliffe College and Princeton University, which are all private schools, have had more.