Tag: public service

Rani Basnet, ‘26, Wins Obama-Chesky Voyager Award

Heidi Greenwald / / Fellowships

Congratulations to Middlebury junior Rani Basnet, an International and Global Studies major, who has received the highly selective Obama-Chesky Scholarship, also known as the Voyager Scholarship. Basnet is one of 100 college and university students from the United States to win the award! It is now in its third year.

Created by former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and Airbnb founder Brian Chesky, the scholarship is awarded to college juniors who plan to pursue a career in public service. The award provides up to $25,000 per year in financial aid and a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing for a self-designed international travel experience during the summer between junior and senior years. Read more on Middlebury’s News and Announcements page.

Truman and Marshall Scholarship Information Session on April 17(noon ET); sign up below!

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Graduate School Funding

Here’s a new online information session organized by the Truman and Marshall Scholarship foundations: Post-Graduate National Scholarship Opportunities – Information Session for Prospective Candidates

Date: 17th April 2024

Time: 12pm-1pm ET

Panel: Josh Stanton (Head of Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy – British Embassy), Haley Addison (Manager – MACC), Megan Friddle (President – NAFA), Dr Terry Babcock (Truman – Executive Secretary), Tara Yglesias (Truman – Deputy Executive Secretary).

Sign up link: https://forms.gle/wBiSe4BDLAqbzPSc8

Created by Congress in 1975, the Truman Scholarship provides funding and support to aspiring leaders pursuing careers in public service. Over 3,500 Truman Scholars have gone on to successful careers in public service, serving in government and the military, transforming non-profits, and organizing for change in local communities.

The British Government-funded Marshall Scholarship allows up to 50 high-achieving American undergraduates each year to pursue fully-funded graduate study at any university in the UK in any academic topic. With multiple degree options and funded research and travel opportunities within the United Kingdom, the Marshall Scholarship provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunityto secure a postgraduate degree at one of the UK’s world-renowned academic institutions.

Representatives from both scholarships will shed light on the benefits offered by both scholarships and offer tips on navigating the application process. See go/truman and go/marshall to learn more about eligibility and how to apply through Middlebury.

Voyager Scholarship Application Deadline March 22, 2023

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Graduate School Funding, Summer Program

The Voyager Scholarship–the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service is open: January 25, 2023 through March 22, 2023 3:00 pm Central Time

What is it? The Voyager Scholarship helps students pursuing careers in public service by providing access to travel and education. Benefits include:

  • Financial aid up to $50,000
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Fall Summit: students will be invited to a summit to help define and inspire their public service journey.
  • A network of leaders: 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 happen

Have questions? Read our FAQ sheet for more information.

Applicants to the Voyager Scholarship must:

  • Plan to enroll full-time in their junior year of study at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States (including U.S. Territories) in Fall 2023. Eligible students are finishing their sophomore year in Spring 2023 and will be considered juniors based on total number of credits earned at their institution by Fall 2023. (Students transferring from a two-year to a four-year college as juniors for the 2023-2024 academic year are eligible.)
  • Have four (4) semesters or six (6) quarters of full-time academic coursework remaining before graduating
  • Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent
  • Have demonstrated a commitment to public service
  • Plan to pursue a career in public service upon graduation*
  • Be a United States (U.S.) citizen, U.S. permanent resident (holder of a Permanent Resident Card), or an individual granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA)

*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.

Virtual Public Service Weekend Conference–Applications Due June 6

Lisa Gates / / Education, Fellowships, Graduate School Funding, Uncategorized

Apply now to attend PPIA and NASPAA’s virtual summer conference BUILDING AN EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD: A VIRTUAL CONFERENCE AND POLICY HACK-A-THON FOR FUTURE PUBLIC INTEREST LEADERS.

What’s the focus?

Public Interest Technology (PIT) is a rapidly growing and essentially important field where technology and public policy overlap. Carnegie Mellon University has been a leader in this space for over 50 years, promoting the use of technology to advance the public interest.

Our 2022 Public Service Weekend virtual conference will highlight the rising prominence of PIT and bring together a diverse group of practitioners from across the field—including policymakers, technologists, designers, and leaders—to develop innovative solutions to pressing issues in public policy and equity. This interactive weekend will introduce undergraduate students from a variety of backgrounds to careers and opportunities for graduate-level education in PIT.

Who should apply?

  • Rising college juniors and seniors interested in public policy, public interest technology, policy analytics, and related fields, who are strongly considering graduate education and/or careers in these fields.
  • Students can apply from ANY undergraduate major, including political science, government, the liberal arts, fine arts, and STEM fields. Successful applicants will share a passion for solving complex problems and working together with others from a diversity of fields, backgrounds and perspectives.
  • Preference will be given to students representing underserved communities from across the United States and/or working towards equity issues.

Check out https://www.heinz.cmu.edu/events/public-service-weekend-2022 for more information, dates, and application instructions. Applications due June 6!

New: Voyager Scholarships for Sophomores Committed to Public Service, Apps due June 14

Lisa Gates / / Fellowships, Uncategorized

The Voyager Scholarship is a new initiative to support the next generation of public service leaders with financial aid and travel support. Created by the Obamas and Brian Chesky, Airbnb CEO, the program aims to alleviate the burden of college debt, provide meaningful travel experiences to expand students’ horizons, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them. The Voyager Scholarship is open to students entering their junior year of college at an accredited four-year college or university in the US, who have demonstrated a financial need, and who are US citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients. You can find more about the scholarship, eligibility requirements and the application process at https://www.obama.org/voyager-scholarship/ . But act soon–applications are due by June 14, 2022 for a fall 2022 launch!