March 26, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Madeline K. Albright, president of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation and former U.S. Secretary of State, announced Tuesday that Navy swimming standout Kelly Zahalka (Jr., Richmond, Va.) was named as one of the 65 recipients of a 2008 Truman Scholarship.

There were nearly 600 candidates representing close to 300 colleges and universities for one of this year's awards that are presented to college juniors. Zahalka was one of three Midshipmen to reach the regional interview stage of the process. The Scholars were selected by independent selection panels on the basis of "leadership potential, intellectual ability, and likelihood of making a difference."

Recipients will have the opportunity to take part in an internship with a government agency in Washington, D.C., after the completion of their undergraduate degree, then will receive up to $30,000 in scholarships for graduate study in preparation for careers in government or elsewhere in public service. Additionally, they must be U.S. citizens, have outstanding leadership potential and communication skills, be in the top quarter of their class, and be committed to careers in government or the not-for-profit sector.

An honors history major with a Chinese minor, Zahalka has posted a 4.00 cumulative grade-point average at Navy. She has been named as the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women's swimming and diving in both 2007 and '08 and last year was selected as a Third-Team Academic All-American (for at-large sports) by ESPN the Magazine and the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Zahalka has been equally successful as a member of the Navy swimming team. Selected as the 2007 Patriot League Swimmer of the Year, she has totaled six individual event and four relay event titles during her career at the Patriot League Championship and has never finished lower than fourth place in an event at the championship. She holds Navy records in the 200 butterfly and 400 individual medley events, with her time in the 400 IM also being a league record, and has totaled 70 individual event victories during her three-year career.

Established by the federal government in 1975, the Scholarship program is funded by the U.S. Treasury and has selected nearly 2,700 Scholars over the last three decades. Zahalka, the 15th Mid to be tabbed as a Truman Scholar since its inception, will formally receive her Scholarship in a ceremony at the conclusion of a leadership training week for all selected 2008 Scholars at the Truman Library in Independence, Mo., on May 18.

Zahalka plans on working towards a graduate degree in U.S.-China relations.