Staff
The Voyager Scholarship, initiated by the Obamas and Brian Chesky, Co-Founder and CEO of Airbnb, is a transformative two-year leadership development and scholarship program designed to cultivate the next generation of public service leaders. Open to students in their third year of undergraduate studies who exhibit a passion for public service, the program combines financial aid, immersive work-travel experiences, and a robust network of mentors.
This scholarship offers significant support to college students, including up to $50,000 in financial aid, distributed as $25,000 per year during their junior and senior years. The intention is to alleviate the financial burden of college debt, enabling students to pursue careers in public service without any financial constraints.
The program further provides students with a $10,000 stipend and complimentary Airbnb housing where students can design their own work-travel experience between their junior and senior years.
Following graduation, the scholarship recipients receive a 10-year travel stipend from Airbnb, totaling $20,000 in Airbnb travel credits. Each year, a student will receive $2,000 in travel credit from Airbnb, as ongoing support allows students to continue broadening their horizons by traveling for their respective work. Scholars will also join the Obama Foundation’s global community, providing access to multiple resources and programming.
Applicants for the scholarship must fulfill the following eligibility criteria both at the time of application and enrollment for the Fall 2024 term. They should plan to enroll full-time as juniors in an accredited four-year U.S. college or university in Fall 2024, either completing their sophomore year in Spring 2024 or transferring from a two-year to a four-year institution for the 2024-2025 academic year. Financial need, calculated similarly to the FAFSA formula, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 are required, with applicants demonstrating a commitment to public service and intending to pursue a public service career after graduation. Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or individuals with deferred action status under DACA. Additionally, applicants must commit to monthly programming, individual coaching sessions, network connections, and developing a viable Summer Voyage plan.
Applications for the Voyager Scholarship for Public Service are now open! Applications close on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 11:59 PM Central Time (UTC-6).