Claire Shipp
April 14, 2021
Claire Shipp is selected as one of 62 recipients of the nationwide, competitive award
In 1975, shortly after Harry S Truman had passed away, the U.S. Congress created the Truman Scholars award to support and inspire the next generation of public service leaders. Now, nearly 50 years later, the honor is awarded annually to a select group of college juniors, providing them with up to $30,000 to pursue graduate studies and access to annual leadership training with other Truman Scholars.
Today, University of Missouri officials notified junior Claire Shipp that she had been named a 2021 Truman Scholar. Shipp was one of 62 juniors nationwide to be named a Truman Scholar. The 62 winners were selected from a pool of 845 candidates, nominated by 328 colleges and universities.
The selected students were recommended by 17 independent selection panels. The panelists based their decisions off of the students’ leadership accomplishments, academic success, and their likelihood of becoming future public service leaders.
Shipp is an MU agriculture business major from Chillicothe, Missouri. She has been involved in public service in many different settings, including as a member of the Intercollegiate Student Council; the Collegiate Farm Bureau; Alpha Delta Pi Sorority; the National Agri-Marketing Association; Mizzou-thon, which is a fundraising organization for Children’s Miracle Network; and executive director of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri (ASUM), the lobbying organization that represents UM System students.
With a passion for improving the environmental and agricultural problems in our world, she has put her best foot forward to be a voice and serve the public.
“After graduation from MU, I hope to attend law school to study environmental law so that I can learn new skills that I will incorporate into my public service work,” Shipp said. “Once I receive my J.D., I hope to find a position where I am able to influence environmental regulations on agriculture.”
Shipp has also decided to continue on in her position as executive director of ASUM until May of 2022.
“As executive director, I have tried and will continue to work, to make the UM System a better place for all students through legislative reform, university accountability and campus engagement,” Shipp said.
With the honor of being named a 2021 Truman Scholar, Shipp is also granted a scholarship to further her academic success and strengthen her ability to serve the public. Shipp plans to use this financial aid to attend graduate school and further her studies in environmental law.
Besides her family, friends, and advisor, Shipp wanted to thank Steven Chaffin and Carrie Nicholson, two UM System Academic Affairs employees, and some of her biggest mentors in this journey.
“Being named a 2021 Truman Scholar is an amazing accomplishment for Claire, but is probably more a surprise to her than anyone who has had the chance to work with her,” Chaffin said. “Claire is a thoughtful leader who is dedicated to finding new ways to advocate for and support students at the university.”
