Guam’s Ji Hye Choi selected as Truman Scholar

Guam’s Ji Hye Choi was selected as a Truman Scholar. KUAM News sat down with the Northwestern University undergraduate who shares what the prestigious fellowship, which comes with a generous amount of funding for grad school, means for her.

"I am feeling pretty good," Choi said humbly. "I am so grateful for this opportunity."

A Guam daughter and alum of Guam Adventist Academy beaming with pride after being selected as one of 58 Truman Scholars from across the nation. The northwestern undergraduate student is studying Political Science and Asian-American studies. "It is a public service and leadership scholarship. It provides $30,000 to go towards graduate education. I am expecting to use it to go to law school," she said.

She wants to focus on criminal justice and prison reform, challenging harsh policies and the impact of mass incarceration. "I was really interested in going into very specifically this type of public interest law where I would be able to help those who are most neglected, those who can not afford all these legal services," she said.

According to the Harry S. Truman Scholarship announcement, “She is currently an intern at the Center on Wrongful Convictions and serves as co-president of the Undergraduate Prison Education Partnership.”

"Oftentimes, people who are wrongfully convicted their only crime was being born poor and just not being born with all these resources and money," said Choi. "I think I just want to be a voice for them and fight for them because no one will."

And she thanked those who fought for her and plans to return to give back. "Guam is my home and I am so grateful for all the support that I have gotten from my family and my community back home," she said.