Overview & Commitment

• This scholarship gives college students financial aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their connections to new communities, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them, including:
• Up to $50,000 in financial aid: Students will receive up to $25,000 per year in “last dollar” financial aid for their junior and senior years of college. This financial aid should alleviate the burden of college debt so that students can afford to pursue a career in public service.
• Summer Voyage: Students will receive a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing to pursue a summer work-travel experience between their junior and senior year of college. The students will design their own Summer Voyage to gain exposure to new communities and experience in a chosen field.
• 10-year travel stipend: After graduation, Airbnb will provide the students with a $2,000 Airbnb 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.
• Fall Summit: During their Junior Year, Voyagers may 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.
• 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.

Eligibility

Please be sure that you meet ALL of the following eligibility criteria. Applicants must meet these eligibility requirements both at the time of application and enrollment for the Fall 2024 term:

• Plan to enroll full-time in their junior year of study at an accredited college or university in the United States in Fall 2024. Eligible students are completing their sophomore year in Spring 2024 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 – this is calculated using a similar formula to the FAFSA
• Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent. Students are required to upload unofficial transcripts as part of the application process.
• Have demonstrated a commitment to public service
• Plan to pursue a career in public service* upon graduation
• 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)
• Program Commitment – You are able to commit to fully participating in once per month programming including individual meetings with coaches

This scholarship DOES NOT require an institutional endorsement. If you intend to apply, we highly recommend you work with the MSU Distinguished Student Awards Office on your application. Deadline: March 27

How to Apply

1. Review the Voyager Scholarship website.
2. Complete the DSAO Intent to Apply Form to get on our list of applicants.
3. Work with the DSA Office on application draft and resume.

Application Materials

Send all to studentawards@msu.edu:

• Voyager Scholarship example application
• Transcripts from all higher education institutions attended after high school