Illinois Students Awarded Voyager Scholarships

Christina Walker and Gabi Capone have been selected for the Obama-Chesky public service program.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Scholarships

Illinois Students Awarded Voyager Scholarships

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The Obama Foundation has awarded Voyager Scholarships to two Illinois students, Christina Walker and Gabi Capone. The program provides financial support to college students pursuing careers in public service.

Why it matters

The program supports students dedicated to public service by easing the financial burden of their education and offering unique leadership opportunities. It connects participants with global travel experiences to broaden their perspective on community impact.

Each scholar receives $50,000 in tuition assistance and a $10,000 stipend for the two-year program. The initiative also includes access to free Airbnb lodging to facilitate travel for leadership development.

The players

Barack Obama

He is the former President of the United States and the founder of the Chicago-based Obama Foundation.

Brian Chesky

He is the CEO of Airbnb and a co-creator of the Voyager Scholarship program.

Christina Walker

She is a junior at Columbia College and a recipient of the 2026 Voyager Scholarship.

Gabi Capone

She is a graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and a Voyager Scholarship recipient.

The details

Selected applicants undergo a rigorous review process by Barack Obama and Brian Chesky to join the leadership development program. Scholars like Walker and Capone are enabled to travel to international locations such as Belize and Estonia to conduct public service work.

Gabi Capone was awarded the scholarship in 2025.
Christina Walker was awarded the scholarship in September 2026.

Culture Shift

The Voyager Scholarship represents a broader movement toward immersive, globalized learning experiences for the next generation of civil servants. It mirrors a cultural shift where private-sector partnerships increasingly fund the professional development of public service leaders.

For Illinois students interested in public service, the program offers a pathway to fund tuition and gain international experience. Recipients must manage their two-year leadership commitments alongside their ongoing academic or early professional pursuits.

The takeaway

The program emphasizes that public service leadership is developed through both formal education and real-world travel experience. Interested students should focus their applications on demonstrating a clear, actionable commitment to solving community issues.