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VERMILLION — Ellie Hart is a busy student at the University of South Dakota.
The Mitchell High School graduate fills her time pursuing a political science major and a minor in Spanish while also being a part of the honors program and serving as the newly-elected vice-president of the Student Government Association and the president of the Panhellenic Council.
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Somewhere, Hart also found time to apply for a Truman Scholarship, a prestigious, federally-funded scholarship for college juniors who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential and a commitment to public service, while also providing up to $30,000 for graduate education.
She was named a finalist for the scholarship in March and will find out if she is a recipient later this month. Also joining her as a finalist at USD is Tea native Taylor Van Emmerik. Hart and Van Emmerick are the two finalists from South Dakota.
“I was overjoyed, honestly,” Hart told the Mitchell Republic about being selected as a finalist. “I had put so many hours of work into my application — probably over 50 hours minimum. I was definitely hopeful, but you just never know.”
Truman Scholarships, named for former president Harry S. Truman, are part of a competitive program wherein applicants must first be nominated by their undergraduate institution. They must then complete a comprehensive application including essays, a policy proposal as well as secure three letters of recommendation, with a deadline typically in early February.
The nominating school, in this case USD, can nominate four students for the scholarship per year, and with eight students showing interest on campus this year, officials at the school had to whittle down the applicant pool. Hart made that cut and continued on with the application process.
After being named a finalist, another interview followed. This stage of the process is meant to be a challenge for the applicants.
“It was definitely an intimidating process. The goal of the interviewers is to make it one of the most difficult interviews of your life,” Hart said. “They definitely push back on your statements and really push you to think in a different way. I found it to be a great experience, but it was definitely intimidating.”
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Hart was grateful for the ongoing support she has received from staff, faculty and fellow students throughout the process. Though originally unsure if she wanted to stay in-state for her college experience, Hart said the school, which both of her parents also attended, has proved to be the perfect landing spot.
She said growing up in Mitchell played an integral role in her development leading up to her studies at USD.
“I loved Mitchell High School. I felt like I had really amazing teachers not only at MHS but at L.B. Williams, as well. Great teachers and a lot of people who supported me,” Hart said. “But I never thought I would go quite this route.”
Hart plans to eventually pursue a Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health degree and is passionate about using legal advocacy and policy to address systemic issues. She is committed to creating change through public service and continuing her work to advocate for the public good, according to her Truman Scholarship candidate profile at USD.
The $30,000 in graduate study funding provided by a Truman Scholarship would certainly be useful in the pursuit of her goals, but the scholarship is as much a symbol of dedication and hard work as it is a monetary windfall, Hart said. That makes simply being named a finalist for the scholarship a success.
Being a recipient of the scholarship is to be part of rare company. In 2025, 743 applicants from 288 institutions from around the country competed for Truman Scholarships. Only 201 students from 137 schools were named finalists. About 50 or 60 official recipients are named every year.
“To me, bigger than that and more important is that it is a community of people that you are now a part of. They are truly the best servants that are a part of this group, so smart and dedicated to service. It’s just an amazing community,” Hart said. “The scholarship also requires so much that being a Truman Scholar, people know the amount of effort you have put into the process. More than just being an honor, it’s a mark of hard work and service.”
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In addition to her work with the Student Government Association and the Panhellenic Council, Hart is also involved in Days for Girls, a club she founded at USD. She serves as the co-president of the political science honor society Pi Sigma Alpha, and has contributed to USD through roles as a student representative on the ICARE team and as the vice president of parade for Dakota Days.
Her passion for service can make for a challenging schedule, but Hart has embraced it all and said up-and-coming high school students can find the same satisfaction and success she has by challenging themselves. Doing that will only strengthen them and prepare them for the obstacles that arise in everyday life and high school, as well as college.
“I think the biggest thing is to do things that make you uncomfortable. Push yourself to do more,” Hart said. “That’s where I feel I grew the most over my college experience. That’s where I’ve had the most fun and the most growth.”
Previous Truman Scholarship finalists from Mitchell include Caleb Swanson, who was named both a finalist and a recipient in 2023.
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