MEDIA RELEASE

A junior political science student at the University of Hawaii at Hilo has been awarded the prestigious Truman Scholarship.

Elyssa Correia

Elyssa Rae-Ann Correia, of Hilo, is one of 54 scholarship recipients from across the country and the only Hawaii student to win. She plans to attend the William S. Richardson School of Law at UH Manoa.

As an active member of her community, Correia is involved with various community organizations such as the Penn Hawaii Youth Foundation.

With youth advocacy as a career goal, she hopes to start a foundation of her own focusing on helping families of drug abusers.

Correia is also a member of the 2012 UH Hilo Model United Nations Team and the president of the Model UN Club.

The Truman Scholarship honors the legacy of President Harry S. Truman and provides up to $30,000 in funding to students pursuing graduate degrees in public service fields.

Each year since 1977-78, hundreds of college juniors compete for roughly 60 awards.

The rigorous selection process requires candidates have a strong record of public service, as well as a policy proposal that addresses a particular issue in society.

“Elyssa is very deserving of this award,” said Dr. Sarah Marusek, assistant professor of political science who served as Correia’s advisor. “As a Truman Scholar and outstanding student at UH Hilo, she is an accomplished young woman with a bright future.”