On April 18, former Arizona Governor and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, President of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, announced the 54 exceptional college students from 49 U.S. colleges and universities selected as 2025 Truman Scholars. Among them was Greyson Orne, of Camden.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation offers the premier graduate scholarship for aspiring public service leaders in the United States.

“Resourceful, patriotic leaders, today’s Truman Scholars would make President Truman proud,” said Dr. Terry Babcock-Lumish, the Foundation’s Executive Secretary and a 1996 Truman Scholar from Pennsylvania, in an April 18 news release. “Rising to meet their moments in this century as he did his in the 20th century, they are dedicated public servants who do not shy from challenge.”

Orne, who grew up in Camden, graduated with the Maine School of Science and Mathematics Class of 2022, attended Colby College and then transferred to the University of North Dakota, where he is now a junior pursuing a bachelor's degree with a dual major in unmanned aircraft systems operations and political science.

Orne said he has always been fascinated by aviation and airplanes, and had always wanted to be a pilot. 

"This interest has carried over to today and inspired me to work in the public sector to improve aviation safety, integrate unmanned aircraft into the national airspace, and promote aeromedical certification reform," he said. "While I loved my time at Colby, the University of North Dakota offers one of the best collegiate aerospace departments in the country, allowing me to focus on both emerging technologies in unmanned aircraft systems while simultaneously completing my flight training in UND's advanced fleet of training airplanes."

Twenty-three (43%) Scholars attend public universities, 24 (44%) attend private research universities, five (9%) attend private liberal arts colleges, and two (4%) attend service academies. Five institutions have a Truman Scholar for the first time: DePaul University, Drury University, Hillsdale College, Northeastern Illinois University, and Xavier University of Louisiana.

Truman Scholars demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector, and academic excellence, the release said. Each Truman Scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling, and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government.

The University of North Dakota published an article about Orne, and his surprise in being notified of the scholarship. UND quoted Orne saying that he wants to spend upcoming months in Washington, D.C., as part of the Truman Summer Institute, to, "work with either the FAA’s UAS division or the U.S. House or Senate committees on Transportation, on the topic of integrating UAS technology into the national airspace."

After graduation from UND in 2026, he intends to return to Washington, D.C. to work in public policy before attending law school, either back home in New England or in, D.C.

Orne's years at MSSM, from 2018 to 2022,  were filled with academic pursuits, including the study of government.

"I wanted to expand my horizons and pursue the best, most well-rounded education possible," he said. "My time at MSSM was most beneficial in instilling the value of hard work in academics while simultaneously exploring one's passions outside of the math and science sphere. I also credit the MSSM Youth in Government program for sparking my interest in government and public policy, which has continued to this day."

The 54 new Truman Scholars were selected from 743 candidates nominated by 288 colleges and universities. They were recommended by 17 independent selection panels based on the finalists’ academic success and leadership accomplishments, as well as their likelihood of becoming public service leaders.The Finalist Selection Committee selected 201 students from 138 institutions to interview with the Foundation’s Regional Review Panels between March 3 and April 7. 

Regional selection panels included distinguished civic leaders, elected officials, university presidents, federal judges, and past Truman Scholarship winners.

Established by Congress in 1975 as the living memorial to President Harry S. Truman and a national monument to public service, the Truman Scholarship carries the legacy of our 33rd President by supporting and inspiring the next generation of public service leaders. When approached by a bipartisan group of admirers near the end of his life, President Truman embodied this commitment to the future of public service by asking Congress to create a living memorial devoted to this purpose, rather than a traditional brick-and-mortar monument. For almost 50 years, the Truman Foundation has fulfilled that mission: inspiring and supporting Americans from across the country.

Now, the 54 awardees join a community of 3,618 Truman Scholars named since the first awards in 1977. Prominent Truman Scholars in government service include United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch (CO 1987), Senators Chris Coons (DE 1983) and Andy Kim (NJ 2003), Representatives Gabe Amo (RI 2009), Dusty Johnson (SD 1998), and Greg Stanton (AZ 1990), and former White House National Security Advisors Susan Rice (DC 1984) and Jake Sullivan (MN 1997).