Rotimi Kukoyi named Truman scholar
The Morehead-Cain junior and president-elect of the senior class is the first Tar Heel recipient since 2021.
Junior Rotimi Kukoyi has been selected as a 2025 Truman scholar. The Morehead-Cain scholar and Honors Carolina student is the first Carolina recipient of the scholarship since 2021.
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation announced the class of 54 college students April 18. For almost 50 years, the Harry S. Truman scholarship has recognized college juniors who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential and a commitment to careers in public service. Recipients will receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school leadership development activities and join a network of over 3,500 Truman scholars who have gone on to shape public policy, law, healthcare, education and more.
Kukoyi, a health policy and management major in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, is thrilled at the possibilities this scholarship has opened for him.
“Being a Truman scholar means a lot to my commitment to public service,” Kukoyi said. “It’s something that will inspire the work that I’m doing now and will continue to do in the future.”
At Carolina, Kukoyi has worked with the Student Health Action Coalition, where he helps uninsured people across the region enroll in Medicaid and other forms of health coverage. His interactions with patients have inspired his research on insurance disparities and projects with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
He credits Morris Weinberger, adjunct professor at the public health school who also holds posts at the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, as a mentor. Kukoyi also interned with the Clinton Health Access Initiative in Nigeria and recently received the Robert E. Bryan Public Service Award for his leadership within SHAC.
After submitting his application for the Truman scholarship, Kukoyi spent weeks preparing for the final panel interview before learning the good news. During that process, Kukoyi relied on his close friends and mentors for guidance but also found another support system through past Truman scholars.
“Colloquially, fellow Truman scholars call themselves the ‘TruFam,’” Kukoyi said. “I reached out to some of the TruFam on LinkedIn, and they got back to me almost immediately, offering to run mock interviews and give me tips on applying.”
Kukoyi connected with past scholars from Massachusetts to Mississippi, all with the same passion for public service and desire to see their peers succeed. For Kukoyi, it was one of the most unexpected but rewarding parts of the process — and the first benefit of being a Truman scholar.
“It’s been amazing to go on this journey with people who have such different skill sets and aspirations,” Kukoyi said. “I can’t wait to see what incredible things these people go on to do and how I can learn from them and work alongside them.”
In sharing the news of Kukoyi’s selection for a Truman scholarship, Chancellor Lee H. Roberts wrote to Kukoyi that the honor “reflects not only your academic excellence but also your unwavering commitment to leadership and public service.”
Kukoyi has a busy senior year ahead: He was also elected senior class president. It’s a role that he believes is defined by building community among students.
“There are a lot of things that can motivate people in life, whether it’s salary or prestige, but for me, it’s always been about the relationships I build with people,” Kukoyi said. “Being a Truman scholar allows me to build meaningful relationships with a wonderful, service-driven community, and I want to bring that spirit to all of my endeavors at Carolina and beyond.”
