On Sept. 23, The Obama Foundation announced the newest cohort of Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service recipients. Four of them are Vanderbilt students: juniors Anabel Wilson, Ian Matthews, Devin Crawford and Jason Vadnos. This is the third year in a row that Vanderbilt students have been awarded this scholarship.
The Obama-Chesky Scholarship, also known as the Voyager Scholarship, is an initiative led by Airbnb founder Brian Chesky, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. Students are chosen for their dedication to helping others and community service. The program provides up to $50,000 in financial aid and $10,000 in summer stipends. Recipients also receive free Airbnb housing to complete a summer service project.
Matthews is part of the Galveston Bay Foundation, Holocaust Remembrance Association, the Houston Food Bank and is president of the League of United Latin American Citizens Council No. 22549 at Lone Star College-Kingwood – where he previously attended college for two years. He has helped the community through his work on Honors College research projects and looks forward to the mentorship opportunities available to him as a Voyager Scholar.
“What excites me most is the chance to connect with a network of peers who are or seek to be changemakers,” Matthews said. “I’d like to see this opportunity as a supportive community of leaders who can learn from and challenge each other.”
Crawford, an Air Force ROTC cadet, is a VUceptor and member of the Institute of National Security’s immersion cohort. This summer, he researched how intelligence has been used to harm marginalized groups and how this has affected trust between certain populations and their governments.
“I hope to learn more about how to counter the weaponization of information and technology by foreign nations so that citizens are protected from digital, political and psychological manipulation,” Crawford said. “What’s great about the Voyager scholarship is that it values all forms of public service. Beyond my national security interests, I am passionate about justice reform, housing and health equity and youth development.”
Vadnos is a resident advisor, Co-Chair of Vanderbilt Student Government’s Student Organizations & Community-Building Committee, an opinion writer for The Vanderbilt Hustler, a member of the Dialogue Vanderbilt Student Advisory Board Executive Committee, a research assistant for the Youth & Society Lab and a teacher’s assistant in the Culture, Advocacy & Leadership department. As a Voyager Scholar, he is excited to learn from other like-minded youth changemakers and Voyagers.
“I am really excited to find meaningful mentors who can guide me in the transition from college to career and beyond, from past Voyagers to alumni in other Obama Foundation programs,” Vadnos said.
Wilson is involved with the Model United Nations Team, the International Relations Association, Women in Government, the Pre-Law Society, Kappa Delta sorority and the College of Arts and Science Honors College Scholars program. She is excited about the networking opportunities offered by the program.
“What excited me most about the Voyager Scholarship is the chance to connect with a community of peers who are equally committed to public service,” Wilson said. “I also look forward to having the freedom to design my own Summer Voyage with the guidance of an experienced mentor.”
Wilson has changed her definition of public service over time and believes that an important part of service is vulnerability rather than problem solving.
“To me, public service means showing up with humility, listening deeply and creating space where people feel safe in their full humanity,” Wilson said. “Earlier in my service journey, I thought service meant [solving] problems efficiently and quietly. Over time, through work with campaigns and nonprofits, I have learned that true service requires vulnerability, both recognizing my own and honoring it in others.”
