Desereé Johnston is doing her best to make Nebraska Wesleyan University proud. The junior political science major was recently chosen as a recipient of the prestigious Harry S. Truman award.

Desereé Johnston is a go getter, and that's a big reason why the 21-year-old was chosen as a one of 65 students in the nation to win this $30,000 scholarship. Scholars were selected based on leadership potential, intellectual ability and the likelihood of making a difference.

She's on the move again. Desereé Johnston has always loved to travel.

"It actually started when I was little. I would spend a lot of time in my backyard digging because I was convinced I could find China that way. Little did I know that dad was filling up the hole little by little," Johnston said.

So her father didn't allow her to dig through the core of the earth, but eventually he got her to the far east.

"Very small, but Mom and Dad wanted to let me know that there was life outside of Orchard and outside of farming. So starting in 4th grade traveling, we would take an international trip every year. They would save up money and make a lot of sacrifices but it really expanded my horizons," she said.

The trips to China and Russia with her parents just whet Johnston's appetite to see the rest of the world.

"Since I've been at school I've been to Sri Lanka, India and panama and Swaziland."

Johnston is hoping her college classes will help her someday make a difference.

"Right now I'm interested in international development work, through the service trips I've taken I've really enjoyed getting to know people on a first-hand basis, working with children," she said.

Serving others around the globe is impressive enough, but back home Desereé uses dance to inspire elementary students in Lincoln.

"Over winter break we went to southern California and we were working with inner city schools in Los Angeles, and one of them actually had this after school dance program. I've been dancing since I was three, so I was pretty excited about that and I just thought if this can be done there it can be done in Lincoln," Johnston said.

At home or abroad, Johnston's adviser at Wesleyan believes she's on the right path.

"I would expect to see her in some type of leadership in the U.S. at some point. Very clearly she had that vision and she has the sense that she knows she can do it, and it will happen. I don't doubt that," said Bob Oberst, NWU Political Science professor.

This is the fourth time the Truman scholarship has been bestowed upon a Nebraska Wesleyan university student.

The award was established in 1975 as a federal memorial the the 33rd president.