Rhodes College junior Johnathan Burch, who is a political science and health equity double major from Heath Springs, SC, is among 55 outstanding college students from across the country who have been named 2026 Truman Scholars. The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation made the announcement today.
The Truman Scholarship provides generous financial support for graduate study in preparation for careers in government, public service, the nonprofit sector, or education. Students are nominated by their institution based on their leadership, public service, and academic achievement.
Burch graduated from David W. Butler High School in Matthews, NC, and came to Rhodes as a Posse Foundation Scholar dedicated to developing his leadership skills. He has been a competitor on one of Rhodes’ national mock trial teams and was recently elected to serve as a Student Trustee for the 2026-2027 academic year, following his current term as Rhodes Student Government President.
Additionally, Burch has worked as a Rhodes Diplomat, Peer Assistant, and an Office of Admission student associate. Outside of campus, Burch worked as a clinical quality improvement intern at Church Health, which allowed him to connect with the Memphis community and serve the uninsured. As a 2025 Douglass-O'Connell Global Intern, he gained experience working for the Irish Innocence Project in Dublin, Ireland, conducting legal and comparative constitutional research.
The 2026 Truman Scholars will receive their awards in a ceremony at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in May.