Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service

Grades

Must be in second year of undergraduate studies at time of application (applying to start third year/junior year in the Fall)

Age

Typically 18-22 (implied by undergraduate status)

Citizenship

Not explicitly stated on official page, but appears to be U.S. students at accredited colleges; requirement likely exists but specific details not publicly available

Prerequisites

Must demonstrate: passion for helping others, experience serving in or building community, expansive view of what's possible through public service, curiosity about the world, conviction to make positive change

Steps

1. Visit obama.org/programs/voyager-scholarship
2. Complete official application form (online portal - exact format not publicly detailed)
3. Submit written application materials demonstrating public service experience and leadership
4. Selection process includes review of commitment to public service and community engagement
5. Selected candidates are notified and enroll for Fall semester

Materials Needed

• Completed application form
• Essays/personal statements about public service motivation and experience (specific prompt not detailed on public site)
• Possibly letters of recommendation (not explicitly mentioned but standard for scholarship programs)
• Possibly transcript/GPA documentation (official site does not specify minimum GPA)
• Possibly proof of full-time enrollment
• Information about community service and leadership experience

Timeline

Applications currently closed (as of search date). Historically, program appears to operate on 2-year cohorts (2022-2024 class completed, 2025-2027 class currently active). New application cycle likely opens annually or biennially - students should monitor obama.org/programs/voyager-scholarship for next cycle announcement. Recommend checking Fall of junior year

Cost

No application fee (appears to be free to apply)

What Judges Look For

• Demonstrated passion for helping others and public service commitment
• Concrete experience serving in or building communities (volunteer work, nonprofit involvement, community organizing, etc.)
• Expansive vision of social change and public service impact
• Global curiosity and openness to new perspectives and places
• Values-based leadership approach and ability to bridge divides
• Clear articulation of public service career goals
• Evidence of understanding how travel/exposure strengthens civic work
• Diversity of background and experience (program seeks 'young people from every corner of this country')

Scoring

Not publicly disclosed. Appears to be holistic review emphasizing impact of service experience and alignment with program values of bridge-building, empathy, global understanding, and public service commitment

Common Mistakes

• Lacking concrete community service experience (writing about intention to help without demonstrated track record)
• Failing to articulate specific public service goals or career direction
• Submitting generic service narratives without unique perspective or personal impact
• Not addressing how travel/global exposure connects to public service mission
• Applying while not meeting eligibility (must be rising junior at time of application)
• Not demonstrating understanding of Voyager program values (bridge-building, empathy, cooperation)
• Overlooking that program seeks diverse backgrounds - being from underrepresented communities is asset
• Failing to show commitment to two-year leadership development program and ongoing engagement

Acceptance Rate

Not publicly disclosed; appears highly selective given prestige of Obama Foundation, Airbnb partnership, and substantial $50,000 award. Estimated to be <10-15% based on typical flagship scholarship programs, but exact figure not available

Applicants

Not publicly disclosed; likely thousands given high visibility and prestigious nature

Winners / Selected

Not specified publicly, but program has had at least two cohorts (2022-2024 and 2025-2027), suggesting at least 20-50+ total recipients across cohorts; exact class size not disclosed

• Start building community service record NOW if you're interested - judges want demonstrated experience, not just future plans
• Focus on depth over breadth - one sustained, meaningful community engagement is stronger than many surface-level volunteer experiences
• Show how you've made tangible impact - use specific metrics, stories, outcomes from your service work
• Research the Obama Foundation and Brian Chesky's philanthropic missions to understand program values around global citizenship, bridge-building, and empathy-driven change
• Articulate clear connection between your service experience and specific public service career goals (policy, nonprofit, government, social entrepreneurship, etc.)
• Emphasize cross-cultural competency or how you've worked across divides - this is core to founders' philosophy
• Write authentically about WHY public service matters to you - personal narrative is critical
• Highlight experiences showing global perspective or openness to new places/people (study abroad, international service, work with immigrant communities, etc.)
• Demonstrate values-based leadership (acting on principles, inspiring others, ethical decision-making)
• Apply early in the cycle when positions are still available
• If essays are required, connect explicitly to Voyager program's emphasis on travel, mentorship, and leadership development
• Consider how you'll use the $10,000 summer stipend/free Airbnb for strategic public service experience (not just tourism)
• Show understanding of 10-year post-graduation travel credit as tool for sustained public service work, not personal tourism

How to Prepare

• Identify and deepen engagement with 1-2 key community service areas you're passionate about (nonprofit, government, social enterprise, community organizing, etc.)
• Take on leadership roles in service work - seek positions like program director, team lead, or board member in your community initiatives
• Document your service impact: track metrics, stories, outcomes you've influenced
• Explore how different communities/cultures approach public service issues - build global perspective
• Develop clarity on your specific public service career goals (what type of work, what issues, what impact)
• Read about Obama Foundation's mission, programs, and scholarship values
• Study Brian Chesky's philosophy on travel and cultural exchange as drivers of understanding
• Consider how you bridge divides - what communities do you connect? How do you build empathy across difference?
• Participate in additional leadership development: civic engagement programs, nonprofit internships, government fellowships
• Build relationships with community leaders/mentors who can speak to your impact
• Take on a summer service experience that aligns with your public service goals
• Reflect on and articulate your personal values and how they drive your service work
• Practice writing compelling narratives about your community impact
• Research different fields of public service to articulate informed goals

Resources

• Obama Foundation website: obama.org (explore their other programs, mission, values)
• Brian Chesky interviews and articles on philanthropy and global citizenship
• Books on public service and social change: 'The Purpose Driven Life' (Rick Warren), 'Give and Take' (Adam Grant), 'Educated' (Tara Westover), Obama memoirs
• AmeriCorps programs for service experience
• Peace Corps or international service opportunities
• Local nonprofit websites and volunteer portals
• Idealist.org and VolunteerMatch for service opportunities
• Bridgespan Group resources on nonprofit leadership
• Center for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School
• Examples of social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders (Teach for America, Code2040, etc.)
• College-specific public service and civic engagement offices
• Scholarships.com and FastWeb for similar scholarship comparisons
• Writing guides for scholarship essays (Common App Essay strategies applicable)

Time Needed

Minimum 6-12 months of intentional preparation. Ideally start in sophomore year to build meaningful community service record and clarify public service goals. Junior year first semester is when to focus on application materials. Students should begin exploring if interested by end of sophomore year

While specific 2025-2027 Voyager names are not detailed publicly on the searchable web, the official site indicates the program attracts: college juniors with demonstrated community service backgrounds, students from diverse geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, individuals with specific public service career direction, people showing evidence of bridge-building across communities, students with global perspective or cross-cultural experience, individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in leadership, young leaders demonstrating empathy and collaborative approach to social change. Past cohorts appear to span various fields (nonprofit leadership, policy, civic engagement, education, environmental justice, economic development, etc.). The program explicitly seeks geographic diversity ('every corner of this country') suggesting winners are not concentrated at elite universities but represent broad range of institutions

This is a prestigious, highly-regarded scholarship that significantly strengthens college applications when pursuing graduate programs or competitive fellowships. College admissions officers view this as: evidence of genuine public service commitment (not resume-padding), demonstration of substantial financial need and ability to pursue meaningful work, validation by prestigious mentors and leaders, proof of leadership maturity and values-alignment. Graduate school admissions officers and employers in public service sectors view Voyager scholars very favorably. The scholarship also provides practical advantage - $50,000 in aid removes financial barriers to public service careers, allowing recipients to pursue lower-paying nonprofit/government work. The ongoing mentorship network and Obama Foundation connection are valuable professional assets. Among peer scholarships, this ranks with other major foundation scholarships (Point Foundation, Posse, etc.) in prestige. Notably, having this scholarship strengthens candidacy for other selective public service fellowships (Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, etc.)

• The Congressional Award Gold Medal — Tier 2, award