A WKU student from Breckinridge County is the only finalist from Kentucky for the 2026 Truman Scholarship, “the nation’s preeminent award recognizing future leaders in public service,” according to the university.
Caden Lucas, of Harned, has been named a finalist for the scholarship.
“He is WKU’s twelfth finalist, the first WKU finalist in five years, and the only finalist from a Kentucky university this year,” WKU said in a press release.
Lucas is a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Legal Studies, and Strategic Communications. He is a 2023 graduate of the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science.
WKU said the following about the scholarship:
“The Truman Scholarship is the living memorial of President Harry S. Truman. The award includes a $30,000 scholarship for graduate or professional school as well as professional enrichment and mentoring opportunities like the Truman Scholars Leadership Week, Summer Institute, and additional postgraduate fellowships. This year, the Truman Foundation received 781 applications from 305 institutions nationwide, selecting 198 students from 136 institutions to interview with Regional Review Panels in March and April. Approximately 60 Truman Scholars will be selected.”
“As someone who grew up in rural Kentucky, being named a Truman Finalist is deeply meaningful,” Lucas said. “I’ve seen firsthand how access to civic life and public service opportunities can feel distant in smaller communities. My goal is to help build sustainable civic infrastructure so that people, no matter their zip code, see a clear pathway into public service.”
Lucas’ passion for civic engagement began with participation and leadership in KYA programs while a student at Breckenridge County High School and the Gatton Academy.
“First dreaming of a career on the international stage, he applied and was selected for the State Department’s NSLI-Y program in Morocco, where he got a first taste of citizen diplomacy,” according to WKU. “He then pursued an internship with the U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Africa Diaspora Engagement, where he worked on democratization and capacity-building. Paradoxically, the farther he traveled from home, the more questions he asked about what was possible for civic engagement at home.”
Back on campus ahead of the 2024 election, Lucas realized WKU students either had to use intermittent buses or trek up and down the Hill to get to a polling location in downtown Bowling Green. Lucas mobilized students to petition the county clerk and State Board of Elections for a polling place on campus, but was unsuccessful.
Undeterred, Lucas founded the Hilltoppers Vote Coalition to keep chipping away at the issue for the 2026 election and following. He leveraged his position as teaching fellow for the Mahurin Honors College course “Citizen and Self” to found the Civic Engagement Resource Center, developing programming, partnerships, and a library of civic resources for all WKU students.
He developed student, faculty, and staff allies all over campus through the Student Government Association, the Spirit Masters, and pre-professional student organizations. Off campus, he built impactful relationships with elected officials and civil servants in Bowling Green and Warren County. His goal of getting a better outcome in 2026 has left lasting positive impacts in its wake.
Lucas’ signature contribution to the community has been the Downtown Ambassadors Academy, a program he designed and administers to help his peers plug into Bowling Green local government and make their own distinctive impact. Lucas leveraged his networks to recruit more than 50 applicants for a cohort of 24 students. After five months of programming, close to 100 percent of the Ambassador cohort report feeling more confident engaging with civic and community issues.
“When Caden describes a future creating and administering systems and programs for people in our Commonwealth to engage civically, it is easy to bet on his success,” said Melinda Grimsley, Assistant Director of the Office of Scholar Development and WKU’s Truman Campus Representative.
For more information about the Truman Scholarship and other nationally competitive awards, contact the Office of Scholar Development at osd@wku.edu.
(Photo: Caden Lucas, courtesy of WKU)
By Ken Howlett, News Director and Western Kentucky University
