Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service
Scholarship Overview: Current college Sophomores with a passion for helping others, experience serving their communities, and can demonstrate an expansive view of what’s possible through public service.
Application Available: January 28, 2026
Deadline Date: March 17, 2026
Scholarship Details:
The Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service supports students who have a passion for helping others, experience serving their communities, and can demonstrate an expansive view of what’s possible through public service. This scholarship gives college students financial aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their connections to new communities, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them, including:
- 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. This financial aid should alleviate the burden of college debt so that students can afford to pursue a career in public service.
- Summer Voyage – Students will receive a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing to pursue a summer work-travel experience between their junior and senior year of college. The students will design their own Summer Voyage to gain exposure to new communities and experience in a chosen field.
- 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.
- Fall Summit – During their Junior Year, Voyagers may have the option to attend an in-person convening where they will engage in community building activities with fellow Voyagers, build their leadership skills, and learn from experienced leaders in public service.
Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants must meet ALL of the following eligibility criteria. Applicants must meet these eligibility requirements both at the time of application and enrollment for the Fall 2026 term.
- Current college Sophomores who 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 2026. Eligible students are:
- Finishing sophomore year in Spring 2026. Applicants should be considered “juniors” based on the total number of earned credits at their institution by Fall 2026 or having two years of full-time enrollment remaining before earning your Bachelor’s degree
- Or transferring from a two-year to a four-year college for their 2026-2027 junior academic 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. Students are required to upload unofficial transcripts as part of the application process.
- Have demonstrated a commitment to public service.
- Plan to pursue a future career in public service upon graduation.
- Be a United States (U.S.) citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident (holders of a Permanent Resident Card), or an individual granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA).
- 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.
- Public service is broadly defined, and eligibility is not limited to specific areas of study or degree programs.
Application Requirements:
Voyagers are selected on the basis of academic performance; current and past public service experiences; work experience; school and community activities; access to other leadership development programs; a video answer submission; and essay submissions focused on a vision for their public service path; their approach to working with others to bring this vision to life; and the ways in which this program can help them accomplish these goals. All applicants must demonstrate financial need (as calculated by ISTS) to be considered. The application will include sections related to each of these components.
Application Requirements: Essay, Transcript, Video
Essay Details:
see online application for details
Award Amount: $25,000
Award Details:
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. This financial aid should alleviate the burden of college debt so that students can afford to pursue a career in public service. The Voyager Scholarship can only be applied to undergraduate studies. Participating in programming during the junior and senior year are required components of the Voyager Scholarship.
Notification of Program Finalists: May 2026
Scholarship Notifications: July 2026
Funds Disbursed: August – October 2026
The Voyager Scholarship can only be applied to undergraduate studies. Participating in programming during the junior and senior year are required components of the Voyager Scholarship.
Website/URL: https://www.obama.org/programs/voyager-scholarship/faq/
Scholarship Manager Information:
Contact Name: The Obama Foundation
Contact Email: press@obama.org
Filters:
Eligibility: Community Service, Financial Need, U.S Citizen/Permanent Resident, Undocumented
Areas of Study: Open to All, Public Policy & Social Services
Applicant’s Current Education Level: College Student
Location Specific: National