Two Northwestern students receive Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship

Justine Liu and Klara Vinn, both third-years in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, have been named recipients of the prestigious Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, known as the Voyager Scholarship.

Created by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, along with Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, the award enables young scholars to create meaningful change in the world. The 2025-2027 scholarship cohort comprises 100 students from 34 states and territories, representing 71 colleges and universities across the United States.

The two-year scholarship program will provide Liu and Vinn with up to $25,000 a year in financial aid, as well as a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing to pursue a “Summer Voyage” work-travel experience between their third and fourth years. In addition to their travels, the scholars are invited to a fall summit and an ongoing speaker series to inspire their public service journey.

After graduation, Voyagers receive a $2,000 Airbnb travel credit every year for 10 years, allowing them to continue to broaden their horizons throughout their public service careers.

Meet Northwestern’s 2025-2027 Voyagers

Justine Liu is majoring in neuroscience and global health and is on the pre-med track. With the support of her Voyager Scholarship, she plans to delve into reproductive health equity, including menstrual health equity and migrant women’s access to reproductive health care.

This project is at the intersection of several of Liu’s interests. Since her first year, Liu has been involved with Menstrual Equity Activists, a Northwestern student organization that works to alleviate period poverty and stigma.

She also works on research focusing on the health and well-being of Asian Americans and immigrant populations as a research assistant in the lab of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Ha Ngan (Milkie) Vu. Migrant health is an area important to Liu, as someone who’s seen firsthand how hard it can be navigating the systems of a new place — she recalls the difficulty she and her family initially had navigating the American health care system after immigrating from Taiwan.

During her Voyage, Liu hopes to meet some of the leaders who helped drive innovative menstrual health policies and accessible health care for migrant women in England and Scotland.

“This scholarship has given me such a big opportunity to not only meet the other Voyagers and learn from their plans and ambitions, but also to go abroad and meet these leaders who have pushed policy and advocacy,” Liu said. “I think that will be very influential for what I want to do in the future.”

Klara Vinn is studying neuroscience with a minor in global health, with plans to pursue medical school. Her Voyager project will focus on connecting vulnerable youth, particularly those affected by foster care or displacement, with enriching extracurricular opportunities.

Vinn’s project was partially inspired by her own work with children. A Ukrainian immigrant, she began tutoring students in English during the pandemic, informed by her own experience learning English as a second language. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, she expanded her tutoring to online classes as a way of supporting her community.

The experience taught her that she wanted to be an advocate for children. Now, she’s excited to combine what she’s learned from her global health coursework, including    Northwestern’s Public Health & Development in South Africa study abroad program, with what she learns on her Voyage.

She plans to embed with organizations focused on providing youth in the foster system with enrichment opportunities to prepare them to succeed, with the hope of someday starting her own nonprofit.

“For this idea that I’ve had for so long and that’s so personal to me to become attainable, it feels surreal,” Vinn said. “I’m so excited.”

Learn more about the Voyager Scholarship and other opportunities by contacting Northwestern’s Office of Fellowships.