Photography: Mack IngramA University of Alabama at Birmingham undergraduate student has been listed as a finalist for the 2022 Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
“UAB, through its commitment to diversity, inclusion, innovation and scholarship, has created an atmosphere in which future leaders like me are able to thrive,” Banks said. “UAB continues to invest in our youth and serves as the cornerstone of development for the world’s next change-makers.”
Banks Stamp, a native of Phenix City, Alabama, is a junior in the UAB College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in political science and public administration. During his time at UAB, he has served as the president of the College Democrats at UAB, been a student ambassador for UAB’s Office of Sustainability and was named Mr. UAB 2022.
In 2020, the UAB Honors College student interned for the Doug Jones for Senate campaign and later worked as a community organizer for City of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin’s reelection campaign.
“Banks Stamp is an outstanding student with a strong commitment to public service and a determination to make our world a better place,” said Shannon L. Blanton, Ph.D., dean of the UAB Honors College. “He has already emerged as an impressive young leader during his time at UAB, as reflected in his scholarly achievements and his work on campus and in the community.”
Congress established the Truman Scholarship Foundation in 1975 as the federal memorial to President Harry S. Truman. As opposed to a brick-and-mortar monument, this living memorial enables students to live out the values of service that characterized the 33rd president’s career. The Truman Foundation supports college students as they explore public service leadership.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Banks since he arrived at UAB as a freshman,” said Michelle Cook, Ph.D., director of the UAB Office of National and International Fellowships and Scholarships. “Seeing him move forward in the Truman competition is exciting, and for Banks, it’s validating – he knows he is on the right path and great things await him.”
The Truman Scholarship is awarded to college juniors wanting to pursue careers in government or in public service. Scholars receive up to $30,000 toward graduate or professional school and are selected for their record of service, leadership potential and academic merit.
The Office of National and International Fellowships and Scholarships administers the nomination and application process for nationally competitive awards like the Truman Scholarship. Additionally, the office partners with other campus entities and community partners to prepare students like Banks for finalist interviews at the national level and beyond.
For more information about scholarship and fellowship opportunities at UAB, click here.