Local student recognized as Truman Scholar
Addie Lentzner, a Middlebury College junior studying sociology and Black studies, has been named a 2026 Truman Scholar, the 13th Middlebury student and 45th Vermonter to receive the award since 1977. The $30,000 scholarship will fund her graduate studies in education reform, focusing on youth empowerment and racial equity in Vermont schools through initiatives like the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network (VSARN).
Middlebury College junior Addie Lentzner, a Bennington native studying sociology and Black studies, has been selected as a 2026 Truman Scholar—the nation’s top graduate scholarship for future public service leaders. She is the 13th Middlebury student and the 45th from Vermont to earn the award since its creation in 1977. Lentzner’s selection follows her work as a community organizer on housing, education reform, and youth advocacy, including efforts to involve student voices in Vermont’s Act 73 education law revisions. The Truman Scholarship Foundation annually recognizes undergraduates for leadership, public service, and academic excellence. Lentzner was one of 55 students chosen from 781 applicants, competing against peers from 48 institutions. She founded the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network (VSARN), a nonprofit advocating for racial equity in schools, and has campaigned to increase student representation on local school boards. Lentzner plans to use the $30,000 award to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, focusing on education reform models and policy translation through Harvard’s EdRedesign Lab. Her goal is to apply her research to Vermont’s education system, addressing rising costs and declining enrollment while empowering young people. The selection committee, composed of civic leaders, elected officials, and past Truman Scholars, praised her strategic leadership in ending preventable homelessness and her role in education reform. Vermont State Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale, a 2007 Truman Scholar, called Lentzner’s work ‘the kind of leadership this moment calls for,’ highlighting her ability to build lasting coalitions. Lentzner credited her community—including family, teachers, and organizers—for fostering her passion for change. She emphasized the impact of high school organizing on her current advocacy, noting how student-led initiatives can drive systemic reform. Middlebury College’s Associate Dean Lisa Gates described the award as a recognition of Lentzner’s dedication to positive change in Vermont.
This content was automatically generated and/or translated by AI. It may contain inaccuracies. Please refer to the original sources for verification.