Stanford junior Grace Carter named 2023 Truman Scholar

Grace Carter has been selected as one of 62 students across the nation to receive a Harry S. Truman Scholarship this year. Truman scholarships are awarded to outstanding students who are committed to public service and have demonstrated leadership ability and academic excellence. The scholarship provides students with up to $30,000 to attend graduate school in furtherance of a career in public service.

Grace Carter (Image credit: Courtesy Grace Carter)

President Marc Tessier-Lavigne called Grace on April 10 to notify her of the award and congratulate her on her success.

Grace is a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation and stood out in a highly competitive campus process for her dedication to public service and her commitment to her Native community. Her enthusiasm for service began in high school, where she served as a presenter at the Harry S. Truman Library, a member of United National Indian Tribal Youth, and a youth ambassador for the Aspen Institute’s Center for Native American Youth.

At Stanford, Grace deepened her commitment by becoming involved in the Native American community and serving as vice president of Stanford Natives in Pre-Law and as an office assistant for the Native American Cultural Center. Her interest in public service led her to pursue a Congressional internship with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, coordinated through Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office.

Grace’s astute leadership was instrumental in reviving the Stanford Powwow in 2022, following two years of online events due to the pandemic. Stanford’s Powwow is the largest student-run powwow in the country with over 50 years of history, attracting about 30,000 people in a normal year. Despite the challenges of managing everything from security to budget and fundraising, facilities, vendors, camping, and publicity, Grace motivated students and excited elders from outside the Stanford community to bring back an in-person Powwow celebrating the resiliency of the Native community.

Grace plans to pursue a JD to empower her to advocate for her tribe and address violence against women. Her combination of passion, education, and cultural understanding will enable her to make a meaningful difference on issues that have plagued the United States since its founding regarding the treatment of Indigenous peoples.

“This whole process has allowed me to grow as a person and really begin to define what I want my next steps to look like,” said Grace. “I am so grateful for the incredible community who helped me along the way, from my recommenders to my advisor and to the many Truman Scholars from Stanford who supported me going into the final interview. As I look towards applying to law school this fall, it is really encouraging to know that I have both the Stanford and Truman Scholar communities rallying around me.”