Diego Sarmiento awarded prestigious Truman Scholarship and Strauss Scholarship
Sarmiento is the first UCLA undergraduate to receive the Truman since 2009
By Kayla McCormack | April 17, 2024
Diego Sarmiento, a third-year political science major and public affairs minor, has won the Truman Scholarship. This marks the first time since 2009 that a UCLA student has been selected for this award. He was also one of 10 students to win the Strauss Scholarship.
The Truman Scholarship is awarded to college juniors committed to careers in public service. In addition to extensive support from the foundation, advising and mentoring opportunities, the scholarship provides up to $30,000 to fund graduate study.
“I see the Truman Scholarship as an investment in my future. I see this as the scholarship committee saying, ‘I see potential in you,’” says Sarmiento. “I just want to prove them right. It’s an honor to receive this award, but it’s also a privilege and I don’t plan to take that for granted.”
The Strauss Scholarship awards $15,000 so students can complete a public service project. Sarmiento’s project is focused on increasing Latino youth voter turnout and registering residents for CalFresh in his hometown of Santa Ana.
Originally a mathematics and economics major, his involvement in grassroots movements and local policy initiatives in his hometown of Santa Ana ignited his passion for political science and social justice, inspiring him to switch his major.
Reflecting on his journey, Sarmiento remarks, “Policy is so powerful, and it affects my life, my neighbors’ lives, and the lives of countless others. My local community-organizing work opened my eyes to the transformative potential of policy.”
Throughout his undergraduate studies, Sarmiento has continued to work in his local community advocating for various causes, from rent control ordinances to youth empowerment initiatives. He worked on a homeless prevention program at the Orange County Board of Supervisors, which provides $400 a month to 100 single-parent households and senior citizens on the brink of homelessness and eviction. His hands-on experience in community organizing and local policy, coupled with his academic pursuits, has equipped him with a unique perspective on bridging the gap between academic theory and grassroots activism.
Sarmiento plans to pursue a joint J.D. and master’s in public policy. Beyond graduate school, he hopes to dedicate his career to addressing systemic injustices and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, particularly focusing on economic justice and reforming the influence of money in politics.
This fall, he’ll be running the Santanero Voter Initiative to mobilize Latinx youth voters in Santa Ana. After graduation in 2025, he plans to participate in the Truman Scholarship’s Summer Institute in Washington D.C. before starting graduate school.
As Sarmiento embarks on the next phase of his academic and advocacy journey, he’s hopeful about effecting change in the future.
“Change may be difficult, but it is possible,” he affirms. “Starting at the local level and building meaningful connections within communities can create change locally. And over time, that has the potential to snowball, grow and create an even bigger impact.”
For additional information about the Truman Scholarship or Strauss Scholarship, contact the Center for Scholarships & Scholar Enrichment.
