An increasingly globalized world needs young leaders who can bridge divides and help solve our biggest challenges together. The Voyager Scholarship was created by the Obamas and Brian Chesky, Airbnb CEO, to help shape such leaders. Even though they come from different backgrounds, both the President and Brian believe that exposure to new places and experiences generates understanding, empathy, and cooperation which equips the next generation to create meaningful change.

This scholarship gives college students financial aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their horizons, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them.

The scholarship provides (see more extensive details):

• Up to $50,000 in financial aid
• A $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing for a summer work-travel experience
• 10-year travel stipend of $2,000/year
• Annual fall summit
• Network of leaders

This scholarship program is looking for young people from every corner of the US who share a curiosity about the world and the conviction to want to make positive change within it—just like its founders. Students should have a passion for helping others, experience serving in or building community, and an expansive view of what’s possible through public service.

Applicants must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

• Plan to enroll full-time in their junior year of study at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States in Fall. Eligible students are:
  1. Finishing sophomore year in Spring
  2. Or transferring from a two-year to a four-year college for their junior academic year next year
• Demonstrate financial need - this is calculated using a similar formula to the FAFSA
• Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent
• Have demonstrated a commitment to public service
• Plan to pursue a career in public service upon graduation. The program has a broad definition of public service, which includes careers in government, non-profits or the private sector. A career in public service includes a range of occupations—from community organizing to social work and from entrepreneurship to the arts—all committed to solving our biggest challenges together.
• Be a United States (US) citizen, US permanent resident (holder of a Permanent Resident Card), or an individual granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA)
• Program Commitment - You are able to commit to fully participating in once-per-month programming, including individual meetings with coaches and network connections, as well as developing an actionable Summer Voyage plan.

Please see eligibility full requirements for additional details & FAQs.

• sophomore

• US Citizen
• Permanent Resident
• Undocumented

Apply online at https://www.obama.org/programs/voyager-scholarship/

Application materials include:

• Information about education, work, public service experiences, leadership program experience and other activities
• Brief information about your public service path. If chosen as a Voyager Scholarship recipient, tell us about the issue or field you’re interested in exploring during the program.
• 2-minute video on the topic: What motivates you and drives your change making work? Describe the connection between your personal leadership values and how these relate to your articulated public service issue area of focus, public service experience, Summer Voyage ideas, and future public service career goals. How is this program uniquely positioned to help you achieve this vision?
• Short response essays: 
  • Describe an experience when you worked to implement positive change within a community. What issue did you address? What community did you serve? What was your thought process behind how you designed the project/experience? What did you learn from the community and how did this shape your approach to public service moving forward?
  • If you are chosen as a Voyager Scholarship recipient, what would you like to focus on during your Summer Voyage? What are you hoping to learn? How can exposure to new communities help with these goals?
  • Describe a time when your opinion or perspective differed from that of your peers, professors, or friends. How did you approach the conversation? Did your perspective change? Who or what changed your perspective? How did this shape how you want to approach difficult conversations in your future public service career?
  • Describe a recent challenge or failure you have experienced. As you look back on this challenge or failure, what did you learn? How did you overcome it? What role did values play in how you overcame this challenge or failure?
  • Based on your previous responses, what would you like to accomplish one year after graduation? What would success look like five years after graduation? How will you collaborate with others to get this done?
  • Please describe how and when any personal circumstances have affected your achievement in school, your work experience, or your participation in school and community activities. Space is limited; be concise.
    
• Financial information

Please see the very helpful FAQs, which answer most questions.

Please reach out to voyagers@obama.org for additional questions.