Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service 2026-2028 (up to $50,000) – YOA

Deadline: March 17, 2026

Applications are open for the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service 2026-2028. The Voyager Scholarship Program is a two-12 months management growth and scholarship program. Through a transformational mixture of barrier-decreasing monetary support, an immersive work-journey expertise, and a sturdy community of leaders and mentors, the Voyager Scholarship is designed to encourage, empower, and join the following technology of leaders and equip them with the instruments and assets they want to launch their careers in public service.

The program identifies college students of their second 12 months of undergraduate research who can be beginning their third 12 months within the Fall. Over the course of two years, programming will facilitate alternatives for college students to refine their values-primarily based management method, construct bridges throughout communities, and nurture their sense of curiosity as they deepen their dedication to pursuing public service careers.

Benefits

Voyagers will obtain the next:

• Up to $50,000 in monetary support: Students will obtain up to $25,000 per 12 months in “last dollar” monetary support for their junior and senior years of faculty. This monetary support ought to alleviate the burden of faculty debt in order that college students can afford to pursue a profession in public service.
• Summer Voyage: President Obama and Brian come from totally different backgrounds however share the basic perception that publicity to new locations and experiences broadens our horizons and redefines what we consider is feasible. Voyagers are supplied with a $10,000 stipend and free housing in Airbnb listings (up to $4,200) to perform an immersive work-journey expertise in the course of the summer time between their junior and senior years of faculty. Voyagers might journey throughout the United States and/or internationally and will select to full an internship, volunteer expertise, analysis OPPORTUNITY, or mixture of those as their studying expertise. These experiences will broaden their horizons and put together them for careers in public service.
• 10-12 months journey stipend: After commencement, Airbnb will present college students with a $2,000 journey credit score yearly for 10 years, totaling $20,000. This will enable college students to proceed to broaden their horizons and forge new connections all through their public service careers.
• Fall Summit: During their Junior Year, Voyagers might have the choice to attend an in-individual convening the place they may have interaction in group constructing actions with fellow Voyagers, construct their management abilities, and study from skilled leaders in public service.
• Network of leaders: Throughout this system, college students can be invited to an ongoing speaker collection, giving them entry to a community of leaders. This community of leaders will expose them to new areas of service and improvements taking place of their fields. After commencement, they may be a part of The Obama Foundation’s world group, offering them with Foundation assets and programming.

Eligibility

Applicants should meet these eligibility necessities each on the time of application and enrollment for the Fall 2026 time period.

• Current school Sophomores who plan to enroll full-time of their junior 12 months of study at an accredited 4-12 months school or college within the United States in Fall 2026. Eligible college students are:
  • Finishing sophomore 12 months in Spring 2026. Applicants needs to be thought of “juniors” primarily based on the overall variety of earned credit at their establishment by Fall 2026 or having two years of full-time enrollment remaining earlier than incomes your Bachelor’s diploma
  • Or transferring from a two-12 months to a 4-12 months school for their 2026-2027 junior educational 12 months
• Demonstrate monetary want—that is calculated utilizing an identical formulation to the FAFSA.
• Have a minimal grade level common of three.0 on a 4.0 scale or equal. Students are required to add unofficial transcripts as part of the application course of. 
• Have demonstrated a dedication to public service.
• Plan to pursue a future profession in public service upon commencement.
• Be a United States (U.S.) citizen, U.S. nationwide, U.S. everlasting resident (holders of a Permanent Resident Card), or people granted deferred motion standing underneath the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA).
• Able to commit to absolutely taking part in as soon as monthly programming together with particular person conferences with coaches and community connections in addition to creating an actionable Summer Voyage plan.

Preference could also be given to candidates with no or restricted prior engagement with different strong management packages with important monetary advantages of their undergraduate expertise. Students should display monetary want to be thought of for this system.

Application

Applicants will submit their accomplished functions by Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Time (UTC-6). Applications will then be reviewed and scored by a variety committee. Finalists can be notified in May, and chosen Voyagers can be notified in July.

Click here to apply

For extra info, go to Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship.