BYU's Latest Truman Scholar

October 2024

BYU student Jane Drinkwater, winner of a Truman Scholarship, wants to increase the accessibility of government programs by improving the interface of government websites. Her experiences serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, volunteering in public service, and pursuing a faith-centered education at BYU have led her to this goal.

A Passion for Service

While Drinkwater was serving a mission in Indiana during the pandemic, she saw that people were often frustrated by government websites. She saw that the digital infrastructure caused a rift between underprivileged communities and the government programs intended to serve them.

"Good programs exist, but people aren’t getting them,” Drinkwater says. “There’s a gap that I wanted to bridge. So, I dove into software design and that’s what I do now.” She is doing user research for Orem City on the interfaces on their websites.

Drinkwater has had many experiences at BYU that helped her prepare for a career in user experience (UX) design. In the College of Fine Arts and Communications and the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences, Drinkwater found the experiential learning she was hoping to encounter when she chose to come to BYU.

"I wanted to be in a place where I could learn to use my God-given talents to serve God’s children,” Drinkwater says. “I’ve always wanted to make a difference and be involved in doing hands-on work, and BYU seemed like a place where I could do that and talk about it like a spiritual mission, which it has been for me.”

BYU design professor Doug Thomas says, “Jane has distinguished herself as a leader and trailblazer. This last year she was president of our UX Design Club, helping bring in numerous guest speakers and leading opportunities for students to receive professional mentorship.”

Ryan Davis, BYU political science professor, says, “She has a sense for discerning how to care about people, especially those who feel vulnerable or insecure. Jane is encouraging when they struggle and excited when they succeed.

Prestigious Scholarships

Each year, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation invests in the futures of a small group of outstanding university students across the nation to help them on the path to becoming public servants in government or nonprofit careers. Out of the 709 students nominated by 285 colleges and universities, Drinkwater was chosen to be among this year’s 60 Truman Scholars.

Drinkwater is the fourth BYU student in the last four years to be selected as a Truman Scholar, a notable achievement for the university. Drinkwater says the application is intense and introspective and that the people at BYU were helpful throughout the process.

Amy McLaughlin, from the BYU Office of National Scholarships and Prestigious Fellowships, helped Drinkwater prepare for interviews that are part of the application. McLaughlin says, “Jane is a force for good in all she is involved in, be it a BYU club, a local city council campaign, or in her UX design work. She’s incredibly bright, creative, and accomplished. Even more, she is driven by a deep compassion for those around her. I am confident Jane will continue to use her considerable talents to make a positive, lasting impact in the lives of those she serves and works with.”

In October, Drinkwater learned that she was a finalist for 2025 to be a Rhodes Scholar. Although ultimately she was not awarded the scholarship, the selection was an honor. “I am grateful for lots of help from professors and advisors,” she says.