Voyager Scholarship: The Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service

Mara Criollo-Rivera (RIGHT) and Kristel Kezia Sagabaen Layugan are pictured outside Dewey Hall.

University of Rochester undergraduate students are eligible for the Voyager Scholarship for Public Service, created by Barack and Michelle Obama and Airbnb founder Brian Chesky to shape the next generation of public service leaders.

In 2022, Barack and Michelle Obama and Airbnb founder and CEO Brian Chesky announced the launch of a $100 million scholarship fund to support college students pursuing careers in public service. The scholarship provides funding for multiple years of travel and helps recipients build connections with a global network of leaders.

The two-year program is intended for students entering their junior year of study at an accredited US college or university. Voyager Scholarship students receive:

  • Up to $50,000 in financial aid
  • $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing for summer work-related travel experiences
  • 10-year travel stipend ($2,000 per year)
  • An invitation to an annual public service summit and ongoing leadership speaker series

Learn more about the Voyager Scholarship and other nationally competitive fellowship, scholarship, and award opportunities available to Rochester students.

Recent Voyager Scholars

Congratulations to our newest Voyager Scholars from the University of Rochester!

Headshot of Mara Criollo-Rivera.

Mara Criollo-Rivera ’25

2023–25 Scholar
Area of study: Digital Media Studies (BA)

Criollo-Rivera grew up in Puerto Rico and eventually moved with her family to New York and, more recently, Vermont. As a 2023 recipient of the ETS/AAHHE undergraduate fellowship, Criollo-Rivera spent the summer of 2023 as a Peter Roth Intern at the Paley Center for Media in New York City. The experience allowed her to meet influential television executives and work with marketing and communications directors at Paley, creating video content for social media platforms.

She’s interested in researching the state of diverse representation within media entertainment and its impact on the social development of children. Her career goal is to work in the television industry and contribute to more inclusive TV environments through the art of storytelling. “The scholarship represents an invaluable opportunity,” she says. “It will grant me access to resources that will enable the continuation of my journey in public service.”

She was a bilingual research assistant at the University’s Cognitive Development Lab and an intern at Ibero-American Action League, assisting the marketing and digital media departments with work on dual-language multi-service programs that advocate for Latino and underserved communities in Rochester.

Criollo-Rivera, who is of Puerto Rican and Peruvian descent, founded and runs Rock of Arts by Mara, social media accounts that showcase her Puerto Rican and Peruvian artwork. She taught an online youth workshop at La Casita Cultural Center of Syracuse University during the COVID-19 pandemic to help children in underserved communities engage with creative expression.

Headshot of Kristel Kezia Layugan.

Kristel Kezia Layugan ’25

2023–25 Scholar
Area of study: Clinical and translational sciences (BS)

The Maui, Hawaii, resident is a volunteer at Golisano Children’s Hospital. At Rochester, Layugan is a member of the Filipino American Students’ Association, the American Sign Language Club, and the Hawaiian Interest Club, where she’ll serve as publicity chair in the 2023–24 academic year.

She’s interested in combatting health inequities due to a range of factors (systemic, cultural, educational) through an exploration of alternative medicine and its integration into conventional health systems. She has a particular focus on rural and underserved communities, including Filipino communities.

At home, Layugan is a cantor at her church. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she volunteered to aid elderly people in her community gain access to COVID-19 vaccines.

“Being a Voyager is a stepping stone for me to grow as a person and challenge myself to break out of my comfort zone,” she says.

Past Voyager Scholars

2022–24 Scholar

Laith Awad ’24
Areas of study: health, behavior, and society (BA) and clinical and translational sciences (BS)