Overview and Introduction
Founded in 2022, the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service provides up to $50,000 for the undergraduate education and professional development of outstanding young people from all corners of the United States who are committed to public service leadership.
The funding comes from a joint collaboration between the Obama Foundation and a personal financial contribution by Airbnb Co-founder and CEO Brian Cheskey. The two-year scholarship program for US-based students in their junior and senior years of college offers unique opportunities for those who are committed to pursuing careers that serve the public and their communities. This scholarship defines “public service” to include careers in government, nonprofit, or the private sector, ranging from school teachers, community organizers, social workers, entrepreneurs with ideas for socially impactful businesses, journalism, arts, and design — a range of fields through which people are committed to creating a more connected, just, and equitable world.
Students of all academic fields are encouraged to apply.
National Application Deadline: April 1st, 2025 at 11:59pm CT
- Degree Level: Juniors in Fall 2026, 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. Alternatively, students may be transferring from a two-year to a four-year college for their 2026-2027 junior academic year.
- Academics: 3.0 or above GPA required
- Citizenship: U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA)
- Academic performance
- Demonstrated commitment to public service
- Plan to pursue a future career in public service
- Demonstrated financial need
- National Deadline: April 1st, 2025 at 11:59pm CT
- Endorsement: U-M Nomination is not required
Instructions for Prospective Applicants
Review the complete and detailed application requirements, criteria, and guidelines for the online application and essays on the Voyager Scholarship website.
Voyager applicants should refer to the Voyager Scholarship site for full, detailed instructions. Note: this application has only very brief essays, and requires no references.
Fill out the Voyager Application on the Voyager website, which includes question categories:
Cataloging of your Public Service Experience, Work Experience, Other Activities, Other Leadership Programs
Short essays on your public service issue, summer voyage plans, curiosity in broadening your perspectives, challenges to your values, changes you have implemented, problems you wish to solve, and how you intend to take action after receiving your degree.
A brief description of any personal circumstances that affected your achievement in school and work.
A two-minute video that addresses the following:
What gives you hope for the future?
How does public service fit into your vision for that future?
How does bridge building and understanding play a role in this vision?
How will the Voyager Scholarship help?
What do you hope to learn from your fellow Voyagers?
Note: This video does not need to be of high production quality; it should contain nothing but you, talking about your plans. More details are available in the Voyager Scholarship application.
3. University Transcript(s). This includes U-M transcripts, and/or any transferring institutions transcripts.