SCHOLARSHIP
National News

Application For The 2023 Obama-Chesky Scholarship For Public Service Is Now Open

@SpectacularMag

An increasingly globalized world needs young leaders who can bridge divides and help solve our biggest challenges together.

scholarship
Former President Obama and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky at the Airbnb offices in San Francisco, CA on April 20, 2022. (Courtesy of The Obama Foundation)

The Voyager Scholarship was created by the Obamas and Brian Chesky, Airbnb Co-founder and 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 Voyager Scholarship for Public Service includes: 

  • Up to $50,000 in financial aid: Students will receive up to $25,000 per year in “last dollar” financial aid for their junior and senior years of college. 
  • Summer Voyage: Students will receive a $10,000 stipend and Airbnb credit to pursue a summer work-travel experience between their junior and senior years of college.  
  • Fall Summit: Each fall, students will be invited to a summit to help define and inspire their public service journey.
  • Network of leaders: Throughout the program, students will be invited to an ongoing speaker series, giving them access to a network of leaders. This network of leaders will expose them to new areas of service and innovations happening in their fields. After graduation, they will join the Obama Foundation’s global community, providing them with Foundation resources and programming.
  • 10-year travel stipend: After graduation, Airbnb will provide the students with a $2,000 Airbnb travel credit every year for 10 years, totaling $20,000. This will allow students to continue to broaden their horizons and forge new connections throughout their public service careers.

Please share this opportunity widely with your networks and with students who you think may be a good fit! If you or someone you know would benefit from this enriching program experience, please encourage them to apply now.  Applications close on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 3:00 PM CT.