Spring Break
CSU student vies for national scholarship
Tim Maddocks
Issue date: 3/7/08 Section: News
Seeing a helpless special-needs student get slammed into his locker between sophomore high school classes inspired Cory Longhurst to start a big brother-type mentoring program for special-needs students.
He wasn't thinking about going on to have a 4.0 GPA in college or to be a finalist for one of the most prestigious college scholarships in the country.
As of this semester, Longhurst has competed with 600 of the nation's top students to reach a top spot in the running for the $30,000 Harry S. Truman Scholarship Program.
The 21-year-old junior business administration and agricultural business double major will have his final Denver regional interview today. Along with his 4.0 GPA, Longhurst's longstanding hands-on social advocacy has qualified him as a finalist for the prestigious Truman Scholarship.
Heather Esterday, coordinator for CSU's Nationally Competitive Scholarship Program, said more than 600 students applied for the "very competitive scholarship." Longhurst is one of 211 finalists nationwide.
The scholarship for college juniors emphasizes leadership potential and communications skills and provides up to $30,000 for students pursuing graduate degrees in public service fields.
"I don't feel that I am a person that stands apart from everyone else," Longhurst said. "I feel that I am truly blessed to have an opportunity to get the Truman Scholarship."
But qualifying as a finalist for the Truman Scholarship does indeed mean that Longhurst stands apart.
Most recently Longhurst has been involved with the UniverCity Connections' Homelessness Taskforce Group and has interned at Community Foundations of Northern Colorado, a nonprofit donor service. He is also a presidential ambassador for CSU, representing the student voice at various fundraising events.
However, social advocacy is not new to Longhurst. His first proactive endeavor to address social needs came when he was only 12 years old.
By Longhurst's senior year in high school, the very same student that he saw being slammed into the locker was equipment manager of the football and basketball teams and was voted as the king of the Sadie Hawkins dance.
He wasn't thinking about going on to have a 4.0 GPA in college or to be a finalist for one of the most prestigious college scholarships in the country.
As of this semester, Longhurst has competed with 600 of the nation's top students to reach a top spot in the running for the $30,000 Harry S. Truman Scholarship Program.
The 21-year-old junior business administration and agricultural business double major will have his final Denver regional interview today. Along with his 4.0 GPA, Longhurst's longstanding hands-on social advocacy has qualified him as a finalist for the prestigious Truman Scholarship.
Heather Esterday, coordinator for CSU's Nationally Competitive Scholarship Program, said more than 600 students applied for the "very competitive scholarship." Longhurst is one of 211 finalists nationwide.
The scholarship for college juniors emphasizes leadership potential and communications skills and provides up to $30,000 for students pursuing graduate degrees in public service fields.
"I don't feel that I am a person that stands apart from everyone else," Longhurst said. "I feel that I am truly blessed to have an opportunity to get the Truman Scholarship."
But qualifying as a finalist for the Truman Scholarship does indeed mean that Longhurst stands apart.
Most recently Longhurst has been involved with the UniverCity Connections' Homelessness Taskforce Group and has interned at Community Foundations of Northern Colorado, a nonprofit donor service. He is also a presidential ambassador for CSU, representing the student voice at various fundraising events.
However, social advocacy is not new to Longhurst. His first proactive endeavor to address social needs came when he was only 12 years old.
By Longhurst's senior year in high school, the very same student that he saw being slammed into the locker was equipment manager of the football and basketball teams and was voted as the king of the Sadie Hawkins dance.
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