SLU Student Earns Obama-Chesky Scholarship
Saint Louis University political science major Faith Townsell has been named a 2025-2027 Voyager Scholarship Recipient.
The Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service supports students who have a passion for helping others, experience serving their communities, and can demonstrate an expansive view of what’s possible through public service.
“As a political science major, this scholarship will open so many opportunities for me. It’s incredibly rewarding to see that years of work on a local, national, and international level have paid off in this way.” Townsell said.
The Voyager Scholarship was created by President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Brian Chesky, Co-Founder and CEO of Airbnb. The program identifies students in their second year of undergraduate studies who will be starting their third year in the fall.
“I was selected because of my work in public service, including my time with the Mayor’s Office of Chicago, where I focused on incorporating youth voice in policy decisions, increasing economic investment in low-income communities, and ensuring young people and families had the resources they needed, regardless of economic income,” Townsell said.
This scholarship provides college students with financial aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, offers meaningful travel experiences to expand their connections to new communities, and provides a network of mentors and leaders.
“I plan to focus on fighting systemic inequalities in urban development in order to build safe, healthy, accessible, and walkable communities for all people,” Townsell said.
Townsell, a Chicago native, was recognized earlier this year at the third annual Black History Month Celebration and Awards Ceremony, hosted by SLU's Cross Cultural Center for Global Citizenship. She was honored with an Emerging Leaders Award for demonstrating exceptional leadership ability and contributions on campus.
The Voyager Scholarship is supported by a $100 million personal contribution from Chesky to The Obama Foundation. The two-year program provides students who otherwise would not be able to pursue their public service passion with financial aid to help alleviate the burden of college debt, an immersive work-travel experience, and access to mentors and leaders from across The Obama Foundation network.
“Last summer, I was invited to meet President Obama, along with nine other community leaders, to discuss polarization among my generation, as well as the role of the Obama Presidential Center in bridging divides,” Townsell said. “I look forward to seeing the Presidential Center open this summer, and being able to say that I contributed to it in some way.”
The new cohort of 100 students represents 34 states and territories, and 71 colleges and universities, with students from Arkansas and Idaho selected for the scholarship for the first time. First-generation college students make up 56 percent of the cohort, reflecting a broad pipeline of talent from families and communities new to higher education.
The scholarship extends beyond financial aid by offering every student $10,000 and free housing in Airbnb listings for their Summer Voyage. Designed by each student to support their unique goals and aspirations, the Summer Voyage is a work-travel experience taken between the Voyagers’ junior and senior year of college that offers enriching connections to new communities and cultures, grounded in students’ interest in public service.