Three students from the University of Illinois, one of whom is a College of Education student, have been awarded Voyager Scholarships.
Frankie Ward, an English major minoring in Secondary Education, was selected for the prestigious scholarship. Ward wants to explore educational inequity and its effects on the development of teens of color as they navigate secondary education and their post-secondary endeavors.
Barack and Michelle Obama and Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, created the Voyager Scholarship. 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 are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients. The scholarship provides up to $50,000 for 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 over the next ten years.
The Voyager Scholarship only grants 100 scholarships nationwide every year.
