Junior receives honor

College junior Robert Klickovich was recently named a Harry S. Truman Scholarship recipient, an honor granted to only 85 college students nationwide. Klickovich said that he was chosen because he is one of the few students trying to pursue a Ph.D. while still an undergraduate. Truman Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit to students who are committed to public service and who show leadership potential, intellectual strength and analytical abilities, according to the Truman Foundation. Congress established the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation in 1975 to recognize the accomplishments of the 33rd president. "We are happy to have a student be a recipient of this award [because] it shows that Penn is one of the top universities in the country," Assistant to the Vice Provost Terry Conn said. President Sheldon Hackney also had a "congenial" meeting with Klickovitch to congratulate him, Klickovitch said. Klickovich said he had been optimistic about the possibility of winning the scholarship. "After meeting the other candidates I thought I had a good chance because I had put a little more work in than they had," he said. According to Klickovich, 20 or 30 students from the University apply to be nominated. Five or six are interviewed, and then three applications are sent to the Truman Foundation where they are reviewed to see if the applicants are "of a national caliber." Klickovich said he was flown to Nashville for another interview and learned that he recieved the scholarship after returning from spring break.