2024 National TRIO Achiever Award Recipient Scott Winton

Originally broadcast on Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Growing up in Branson, Missouri, a rural community nestled along Lake Taneycomo in the Ozark hills, Scott was the first in his family to attend college, unaware at the time of the unique challenges and disadvantages that come with being a first-generation student. His journey from a socioeconomically disadvantaged background to the forefront of U.S. diplomacy is a powerful testament to the impact of the TRIO Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. When Scott applied to the McNair program, he accepted his identity and the implications of being a first-generation college student. Little did he know that this identity would later become central to his work advocating diversity and inclusion within the U.S. Department of State. As a McNair Scholar, Scott was encouraged to apply for the prestigious Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship, a program to prepare students for a career in the U.S. Foreign Service. Though he initially didn’t know what he wanted to do, Scott’s international business major hinted at his desire to work on a global stage. Following his graduation, he interned with the U.S. Embassy in Uruguay, an experience that reinforced his ambition to work in the Foreign Service. Scott’s experience as a McNair Scholar did not end with his graduate education. He remained deeply connected to the program, consistently contacting his McNair mentors for advice and support. His time as a Pickering Fellow and subsequent career in the U.S. Foreign Service, with assignments in countries like Spain, North Macedonia, Guatemala, and Jamaica, are testaments to the doors that the McNair Program helped open. Recognizing the lack of socioeconomic diversity in the Foreign Service, Scott founded FirstGens@ State, an organization within the U.S. Department of State dedicated to supporting first-generation college graduates. Through this organization, he has championed initiatives to recruit and retain individuals from similar backgrounds, working tirelessly to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment within the Department. His efforts have expanded beyond the State Department, inspiring similar initiatives at USAID and the Department of Homeland Security. Scott’s work promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Foreign Service is directly influenced by his experience as a McNair Scholar. The program shaped his future and instilled in him a commitment to giving back and helping others navigate the challenges of being a first-generation student. Now, as special advisor for the western hemisphere to Vice President Kamala Harris, Scott continues to draw on the lessons and values he learned through McNair, advocating for opportunities for all and exemplifying the program’s enduring impact on his life and career.