CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students Clara Alvarez-Leyva, Carlos Hernandez and Danielle Mitchell are recipients of the annual Voyager Scholarship, the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service.
With part of her scholarship funds, Alvarez-Leyva, who is majoring in political science with a minor in legal studies, plans to study the intersection of public policy and youth empowerment as a congressional intern in Washington D.C. She hopes to observe how politicians engage with local communities to address critical issues they’re facing and to further understand the challenges young people meet in underrepresented areas. Alvarez-Leyva is a resident of Chicago and graduate of Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School.
Hernandez also is majoring in political science and plans to use his award to return to Tijuana, Mexico, where he previously has volunteered with local educational nonprofits. While his prior experience in Tijuana focused on research for these organizations, Hernandez wants to make a tangible impact by supporting migrant populations navigating the U.S. asylum process and addressing educational challenges migrant children face in the local school system. He is a resident of Des Plaines, Ill., and a graduate of Maine West High School.
Mitchell, a Chicago native, wants to explore how communities in the U.S. and internationally ensure access to healthy and affordable foods and build sustainable food systems. Through the study of how different countries’ values, policy and infrastructure contribute to their food stability, she hopes to contribute practical strategies that can be implemented in Illinois-based communities to improve food access to underserved populations. Mitchell is majoring in advertising and graduated from Kenwood Academy High School.
The Voyager Scholarship was created by former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama along with Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, to help shape future leaders. They believe that exposure to new places and experiences generates understanding, empathy and cooperation, which equips the next generation to create meaningful change. The two-year scholarship program is open to students entering their junior year of college at an accredited four-year college or university in the U.S., who have demonstrated a financial need and who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents or DACA recipients.
“Across the country, only 100 Voyager Scholarships are awarded each year,” said David Schug, the director of the National and International Scholarships Program at Illinois. “We are so fortunate to have Carlos, Clara and Danielle all contributing to our campus community in their own special ways.”
The scholarship provides up to $50,000 to use toward education-related expenses, a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing to pursue a summer work-travel experience between their junior and senior year of college and $20,000 of Airbnb credits spread out over the next 10 years.
With 10 recipients named after the establishment of the award in 2022, the U. of I. has the fifth-most Voyager Scholarship winners in the country and is one of only a select few universities to have multiple students selected for the award each year.
