Fantastic Voyage: Three Eagles land Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship

A trio of American University students with a passion for public service have won the prestigious 2024-26 Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship.

Felicity Chapman, SOC/BA '26; Melia Hawthorne Klinger, SIS/BA '26; and Denia Smith, SPA/BA '25, (pictured from left) will receive up to $50,000 in financial aid to complete their degrees. In addition to tuition assistance, the scholarship-established with a $100 million gift from Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky to the Obama Foundation-includes a $10,000 travel stipend for a summer experiential learning opportunity anywhere in the world and $2,000 in Airbnb credits for 10 years after graduation. Voyagers also have access to a network of global leaders.

The 2023-25 cohort, which just returned from their summer voyages, explored 63 countries and 23 US states and territories.

Sociology major Faith Massey, SOC/BA '25-who also received a Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship to spend this past summer at Harvard University-won the Voyager Scholarship last year. Edwin Santos, SPA/BA '24, MPA '25, was named to the inaugural cohort in 2022.

"The Voyager Scholarship is for young students who have already demonstrated a commitment to the welfare of their communities and have an expansive view of public service and all it can accomplish," said Paula Warrick, senior director of AU's Office of Merit Awards (OMA). "I think our success in this competition is a reflection of our ability to attract and nurture students with that level of experience and vision."

Warrick credits OMA associate director Christopher Swanson and assistant director Lori Felton "for recognizing what an amazing opportunity this was when the scholarship was first created in 2022. They quickly developed a Canvas site to guide our applicants and procedures for mentoring candidates."

This year, at least two of AU's applicants also received assistance from OMA's Graduate Advising Fellows: Matthew Templeton and Catherine Falvey, both doctoral students in economics.

The third cohort of Voyagers includes 100 students representing 35 states and territories and 60 colleges and universities across the US.

"The past two cohorts have shown tremendous passion, curiosity, and collaboration-all while working hard across their college campuses," former president Barack Obama said in a statement. "Today, as we welcome our third cohort of Voyagers, I'm more hopeful than ever that our future is in good hands."

Meet AU's Voyagers here:

Felicity Chapman

Public relations and strategic communications major
Rye, New York

"As a Voyager I hope to connect with prominent disability advocates across the globe with the goal of expanding my understanding of disability representation in education in order to empower disabled youth."

Melia Hawthorne Klinger

International studies major
Tucson, Arizona

"I plan on using my award to . . . understand the people who adhere to Christian nationalism and see how to engage with them through inter-and-intra-faith dialogue. I want to use the interfaith dialogue skills I've developed at AU to combat Christian nationalism through relationship building and productive conversation."

Denia Smith

Political science major
Belle Mead, New Jersey

"To be selected as a Voyager is nothing short of a blessing. I'm immensely grateful and excited to connect with the phenomenal leaders at the Obama Foundation and to use this opportunity to further catapult my journey in public service. I'm also eager to embark on my summer voyage, where I hope to explore the roles of government institutions in partnership with grassroots organizations to advance racial and gender equity for young women and girls of color."