Application deadline: March 17, 2026 – 10:00pm (Pacific)
The Voyager Scholarship is a two-year leadership development and scholarship program. Through a combination of barrier-reducing financial aid, an immersive work-travel experience, and a robust network of leaders and mentors, the Voyager Scholarship is designed to inspire, empower, and connect the next generation of leaders and equip them with the tools and resources they need to launch their careers in public service. The program identifies students in their second year of undergraduate studies who will be starting their third year in the Fall. Over the course of two years, programming will facilitate opportunities for students to refine their values-based leadership approach, build bridges across communities, and nurture their sense of curiosity as they deepen their commitment to pursuing public service careers.
The scholarship provides “last-dollar” scholarships of up to $50,000 to help shape 100 young leaders who can bridge divides and help solve our biggest challenges by giving college students financial aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their horizons, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them in their public service careers. Recipients will also receive a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing to pursue a summer work-travel experience between their junior and senior year of college, as well as a $2,000 travel credit for the next ten years.
After confirming their eligibility (see requirements below), prospective applicants should make an individual advising appointment with Keila Diehl in the OURS National Scholarships Office.
Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants must meet ALL of the following eligibility criteria. Applicants must meet these eligibility requirements both at the time of application and enrollment for the Fall 2026 term.
• Current college sophomores who plan to enroll full-time in their junior year of study at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States in Fall 2026. Eligible students are:
• Finishing sophomore year in Spring 2026. Applicants should be considered “juniors” based on the total number of earned credits at their institution by Fall 2026 or having two years of full-time enrollment remaining before earning your Bachelor’s degree; or
• Transferring from a two-year to a four-year college for their 2026-2027 junior academic year
• 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 future career in public service* upon graduation.
• Be a United States citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident (holders of a Permanent Resident Card), or individual granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA).
• Be 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.
*”Public service” includes careers in government, nonprofit, or the private sector, ranging from school teachers, community organizers, social workers, entrepreneurs with ideas for socially impactful businesses, journalism, arts, and design — a range of fields through which people are committed to creating a more connected, just, and equitable world.
Please note: Preference may be given to applicants with no or limited prior engagement with other robust leadership programs with significant financial benefits in their undergraduate experience.
Selection Criteria
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. A strong applicant will:
• possess an interest in building bridges across communities
• demonstrate curiosity and dedication to being a life-long learner
• demonstrate a values-based and collaborative approach to leadership
• demonstrate a willingness to learn from and share with other Voyagers in a group setting
Application Requirements
• Applicants must create an account to access complete requirements, which include, in part:
• short responses to 8 prompts
• 2-minute video
• current, complete transcript of grades that includes student name, school name, grades and credit hours for each course, and term in which each course was taken
• financial aid information
For more information about this opportunity, visit the Voyager Scholarship website (opens external site)
