President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have joined forces with Brian Chesky, the founder of … [+]
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Barack and Michelle Obama, along with Airbnb founder and CEO Brian Chesky, have announced the launch of a $100 million scholarship fund that will support college students pursuing careers in public service, provide money for multiple years of travel, and build students’ connections to a network of leaders.
The name of the scholarship is the Voyager Scholarship, The Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service. The new fund is being established with a $100 million personal contribution from Chesky to the Obama Foundation.
According to a news release from the Obama Foundation, the scholarship is anticipated to support 100 students in the first year and grow to support a greater numbers of students over the coming years who are committed to entering careers in public service.
Applications for the scholarship will be accepted beginning today. They must be received by June 14, 2022.
“If we want this next generation of leaders to be able to do what they need to do, they have to meet each other. They have to know each other. They have to understand each other’s communities,” said President Obama in the announcement video. “You’re going to find young people from every corner of this country who are going to be future change makers. There are leaders everywhere. We just have to find them.”
“We need a generation of leaders who are willing to cooperate and build bridges, but it’s hard to build a bridge if you haven’t seen the other side of the river,” added Chesky. “The Voyager Scholarship will broaden their horizons and give these young leaders tools and experiences that will shape their careers. There are young people across the country who have a passion for public service, but can’t pursue it because of their student loan debt. We want to help reduce thatburden.”
The Voyager Scholarship will be a two-year program intended for students in their junior and senior years of college from across the United States who are committed to pursuing careers that serve the public and their communities. Scholarship recipients will receive:
- Up to $50,000 in financial aid: Students will receive up to $25,000 per year in financial aid for their junior and senior years of college.
- Summer Voyage: Students will receive a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing for summer work-travel experiences between their junior and senior year of college. The students will design their own voyage plans to gain exposure to new communities and experience in their chosen field.
- A 10-year travel stipend, worth a total of $20,000: After graduation, Airbnb will provide the students with a $2,000 travel credit every year for 10 years. This will allow students to continue to broaden their horizons and forge new connections in their public service careers.
- A Fall Summit: Students will be invited to an annual summit that will inform their public service work. This fall, they will meet with President Obama and Brian Chesky to talk about the role of empathy and understanding in leadership. They’ll also hear from guest speakers on different approaches to service.
- A Network of leaders: Throughout their term of support, students will be invited to an ongoing speaker series that 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, giving them access to the Foundation’s resources and programming.
Additional information about the scholarship and instructions on how to apply, can be found here.
