The Voyager Scholarship, The Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service

The Obama Foundation

Award: $10,000

Deadline: March

The Voyager Scholarship provides barrier-reducing "last dollar" financial aid of up to $25,000 per year for students' junior and senior years of college. In addition, students will have the opportunity to design a summer work-travel experience (supported by a $10,000 stipend and free housing in Airbnb listings). During their Junior Year, Voyagers 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. Qualifications: Plan to enroll full-time in their junior year of study at an accredited college or university in in the United States in Fall 2026 (Eligible students are completing their sophomore year in Spring 2026 or transferring from a 2-year to a 4-year college or university for their junior academic year. "Junior" is defined as having earned the needed number of credits at your institution to be considered a "Junior" or having two years of full-time enrollment remaining before earning your Bachelor's degree.) Demonstrate financial need; Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; Have demonstrated a commitment to public service (public service is broadly defined, and eligibility is not limited to specific areas of study or degree programs); Plan to pursue a career in public service upon graduation; Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or an individual granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA); Program Commitment - You are 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. Selection criteria: Academic achievements and records, Community involvement, Volunteerism, Financial need, Essay content How to apply: Visit https://obama.org/programs/voyager-scholarship for full program details and a link to apply. Online applications will be accepted January 27, 2026 through March17, 2026.

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Eligibility