Award: $25,000 per year/up to $50,000 for two years
Category: Other Scholarships
We anticipate that 100 Juniors will receive a scholarship, with the option to renew as Seniors, and we aim to scale up to add greater numbers of Juniors in later years. Financial aid up to $50,000: Students will receive up to $25,000 per year in “last dollar” financial aid to cover remaining tuition and/or living costs for their junior and senior years of college. This last-dollar approach builds on other financial aid programs and helps ensure the students can pursue a career in public service and are not constrained by crushing student debt.
Eligibility Criteria:
Applicants must meet ALL of the following eligibility criteria:
1. Plan to enroll full-time in their junior year of study at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States.
2. Finish their sophomore year. Applicants will be considered “juniors” based on the total number of earned credits at their institution OR transferring from a two-year to a four-year college for their junior academic year.
3. Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
4. Have demonstrated a commitment to public service.
5. Plan to pursue a career in public service upon graduation.
6. Be a United States (US) citizen, US permanent resident (holder of a Permanent Resident Card), or an individual granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA).
Applicants must plan to pursue a career in public service. We have a broad definition of public service, which includes careers in government, non-profits or the private sector. A career in public service includes a range of occupations—from community organizing to social work and from entrepreneurship to the arts—all committed to solving our biggest challenges together.
Selection Criteria:
Preference may be given to applicants with no or limited prior engagement with other leadership programs in their undergraduate experience. Students must demonstrate financial need to be considered for the program.
Scholarship America, which is administering the application and disbursing scholarships to selected students, uses a formula similar to that used by college financial aid offices (Federal Methodology), using information provided in the Financial Data section of the application.
Voyagers are selected on the basis of academic performance; current and past public service experiences; work experience; school and community activities; access to other leadership development programs; a video answer submission; and essay submissions focused on a vision for their public service path; their approach to working with others to bring this vision to life; and the ways in which this program can help them accomplish these goals. All applicants must demonstrate financial need (as calculated by Scholarship America) to be considered. The application will include sections related to each of these components.
Application Materials/Process:
The application process includes submission of an essay, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other supporting material.
Additional Benefits:
1. Summer Voyage: With a budget of $10,000, students will design their own summer voyage between their junior and senior year of college. The experience will allow students to pursue internships or mentorship opportunities anywhere in the world that will broaden their horizons and prepare them for careers in public service. Students will also be able to stay in homes on Airbnb using credits provided by Airbnb.
2. 10-year travel stipend: After graduation, Airbnb will provide the students with a $2,000 travel credit every year for 10 years, totaling $20,000. This will allow students to continue to broaden their horizons and forge new connections throughout their public service careers.
3. Fall Summit: Fall Summit: Each fall, students will be invited to a summit to help define and inspire their public service journey.
4. A network of leaders: Throughout the program, students will be invited to an ongoing speaker series, giving them access to a network of leaders. This network of leaders 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, providing them with Foundation resources and programming.
5. During their two years in the program students will receive valuable professional connections and experience that will support their pursuit of a career in public service.
Disclaimer: This information is subject to change without notice. Please visit the scholarship website for up-to-date information.
