Las Crucen chosen as one of 58 Truman Scholars for 2022

Leah Romero, Las Cruces Sun-News
·3 min read
Abrianna Morales, 20, of Las Cruces was named a 2022 Truman Scholar among the 57 other college students chosen from across the country.
Abrianna Morales, 20, of Las Cruces was named a 2022 Truman Scholar among the 57 other college students chosen from across the country.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

LAS CRUCES - The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation recently announced that University of New Mexico student and Las Crucen Abrianna Morales is among the 58 college students chosen as 2022 Truman Scholars.

The Truman Scholarship, established as a living memorial to former President Harry S. Truman, recognizes and supports students across the country who have shown a commitment to public service. Morales was chosen from 705 candidates who were nominated by 275 colleges and universities.

Scholars not only receive funding for graduate school, but leadership training, career counseling and internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government as well.

“We have confidence that these 58 new Trumans will meet their generation's challenges together," said Terry Babcock-Lumish, the foundation’s executive secretary and a 1996 Truman Scholar from Pennsylvania. “As we pay tribute to the Truman Foundation's president for over twenty years, Secretary Madeleine Albright, it is our responsibility to carry on her work as a tireless champion of democracy, human rights, and public service. Selected from across America, the 2022 Truman Scholars reflect our country as innovative, purposeful, patriotic problem-solvers, never shying away from a challenge.”

Morales is from Las Cruces and graduated from Arrowhead Park Medical Academy. She is currently in her third year studying psychology and criminology at UNM. She explained that her plan is to earn a JD and PhD and conduct research “at the intersection of criminology and psychology as it pertains to the experiences of justice within the legal system.” The goal is to maximize positive experiences for victims.

When Morales was 15, she was sexually assaulted. She said she had a bad experience reporting the assault and then navigating the legal system. The case went on for about five years with eight different attorneys taking over representing the District Attorney’s Office within that time. The case was eventually dismissed in May 2021 due to trial violations, she said.

“As far as my case goes, that kind of experience where I didn't really have the chance to fully participate in that. I didn't have a chance to share my side of the story. I didn't have a chance to inform anything; I was just kind of sidelined in the process. It's a very isolating, marginalizing feeling and feels very procedurally unfair,” Morales said.

She said she lost friends after the assault and tried looking for resources that could provide support. She found none.

Instead, she founded Sexual Assault Youth Support Network to fill the gap. The organization connects victims with the support they need. They provide online resources, organize public outreach projects and feature sexual assault survivors through a photo series. Morales has also advocated at the state level for legislation addressing victims of assault.

She explained that she wants to better understand what justice looks like for victims and how the legal system can be changed to improve fairness for all sides. The Truman Scholarship will be a major step in helping her achieve her goals.

Morales said she is honored to represent New Mexico and happy to have the work she has done so far recognized. She will soon participate in the Truman Scholars Leadership Week in Missouri in May.

She and the other 57 scholars now join the community of more than 3,000 Truman Scholars. The late former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright served as the president of the foundation’s board. Prominent former scholars working in government service include:

  • U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch (1987)

  • White House Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice (1984)

  • National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (1997)

  • Former Arizona Governor and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano (1977)

  • Fair Fight founder Stacey Abrams (1994)

Others are reading:

Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Crucen chosen as one of 58 Truman Scholars for 2022