Hearty congratulations to Veronica Penales on winning a Truman Scholarship! The Truman Scholarship provides $30,000 toward graduate education to one student from each state. This is the first Truman awarded to a Baylor student in 15 years.
This is an excerpt from Baylor’s press release:
Baylor student Veronica Bonifacio Penales, a senior international studies and professional writing and rhetoric major, College of Arts & Sciences, from Shreveport, Louisiana, is the first Baylor student to receive the prestigious Truman Scholarship since 2007 and the ninth Baylor student awarded the Truman since the program began in 1977. She also studies within the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core and Honors Program in the Honors College.
Truman Scholars demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector and academic excellence. Each Truman Scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government. With the Truman, Penales hopes to attend law school and earn a joint J.D./M.P.P. degree. Her career plans include working as a litigation attorney and continue advocating for marginalized and disenfranchised individuals. She hopes later to serve as a senior legal counsel at a nonprofit organization and potentially run for public office.
From the Truman Scholarship website:
Veronica Bonifacio Penales
Veronica majors in international studies and professional writing and rhetoric with a minor in women and gender studies and political science. She is a member of the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core and Honors Program. Her upcoming thesis will analyze the extent and interpretation of religious exemptions pertaining to institutional discriminatory practices. Motivated by her own experiences and dedication to fighting for causes bigger than herself, Veronica is passionate about guaranteeing the equal treatment of all, especially those who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community, and protecting women’s right to bodily autonomy. She hopes to earn her JD/MPP and work as a litigation attorney and advocate for marginalized and disenfranchised individuals, and then serve as a senior legal counsel at a nonprofit organization, and potentially run for public office. Her biggest inspiration is her younger brother, and she hopes to continue fighting for a more equitable society for the rest of her career.
Follow the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation on Facebook @TrumanScholarship, Twitter @TrumanApp, and Instagram @TrumanFoundation