Purdue junior Nicholas Neuman honored with Truman Scholarship for academic excellence and a commitment to public service

Nicholas Neuman, a Purdue junior majoring in agricultural economics and political science, is the proud recipient of a 2025 Harry S. Truman Scholarship. A recognition of leadership and academic excellence for students committed to public service, the scholarship is awarded annually to roughly 60 college juniors across the United States — with Neuman’s award being Purdue’s fifth in eight years.

Upon becoming a Truman Scholar, Neuman and students from across the country join a worldwide network of leaders in public service. Previous recipients include Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and former National Security Advisor Susan Rice.

Neuman’s impact at Purdue and aspirations beyond graduation

With his roots firmly planted in Indiana and his ambitions stretching far beyond, Neuman has cultivated an extensive track record in public service and rural development. He has helped coauthor successful multimillion-dollar grant applications for rural Indiana counties, led voter initiatives as part of Purdue’s Student Government, and interned with organizations at every level of government — from local development agencies to the U.S. State Department.

“We are enormously proud of Nicholas’s achievements,” said Bernie Engel, Purdue’s Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. “As a top-ranked program globally, we thrive by recruiting outstanding students like Nicholas and — by partnering with strong programs across campus that match our students’ wide interests — helping our students discover that the world is truly their oyster.”

“Nicholas brings unmatched clarity and purpose to his work in rural economic development,” said Michael Wilcox, senior associate at the Purdue Center for Regional Development and the Purdue Extension Community Development assistant director and program leader. “His passion for local action and his strategic understanding of public funding mechanisms have already made a real impact in Indiana — and he’s just getting started.”

That passion came into focus during Neuman’s time with HWC Engineering, where he served as project lead on the Rush County Community Foundation’s $5 million GIFT VIII grant application. His work has helped secure $45 million in funding for small towns across Indiana, and his drive to continue it comes from seeing firsthand how it transforms local communities.

“It has been my mission throughout college to find an internship on each level of government to explore how they work independently and together,” Neuman said. “While I’ve confirmed my devotion to domestic rural development, I understand the value of learning globally and leading locally.”

Neuman is equally involved on Purdue’s campus. In 2024 he was named Outstanding Sophomore in the College of Agriculture and in the College of Liberal Arts’ Department of Political Science. He also serves as a parliamentary advisor in student government, secretary for the Purdue chapter of the Lilly Scholars Network, advisor to the Purdue Student Life Advisory Board, and risk mitigation officer in Sigma Nu fraternity, where he created the Angel Shot initiative to support safe social spaces. In fall 2025, Neuman will begin his term as the Purdue Student Government vice president.

With a growing list of accolades, including the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, Neuman remains focused on the work ahead: “I want to keep finding ways to help communities like mine thrive. This scholarship is not just recognition — it’s a responsibility.”