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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 29, 2024) 鈥 糖心vlog官方入口 junior Carlee O鈥橬eal, of West Liberty, Kentucky, has received an .
Also called the Voyager Scholarship, this funding provides up to $50,000 in financial aid, including a 鈥淪ummer Voyage鈥 work-travel experience between recipients鈥 junior and senior years, with a $10,000 stipend and free housing. After graduation, recipients will receive a $2,000 annual Airbnb travel credit for 10 years, totaling $20,000.
O鈥橬eal will attend a summit in December to meet fellow Voyager Scholarship recipients and network with public service professionals.
The scholarship supports students 鈥渨ho have a passion for helping others, experience serving their communities and can demonstrate an expansive view of what鈥檚 possible through public service.鈥
O鈥橬eal, the daughter of Danny and Bobbi O鈥橬eal, is majoring in chemistry in the and community and leadership development in the is a student in . She was a Chellgren Fellow in 2023. O鈥橬eal expects to graduate in May 2026. She says she wants to become a high school chemistry teacher and is committed to making sure study of that scientific discipline is accessible to all students, especially those in underrepresented populations.
That desire was born out of her own educational experience in West Liberty.
鈥淚 grew up in a small Appalachian town. There were many educational opportunities that were not offered in my district,鈥 O鈥橬eal said. 鈥淭he most influential discrepancy that has made me want to teach chemistry was that my high school did not have a chemistry teacher.鈥
During O鈥橬eal鈥檚 senior year in high school, a dedicated teacher, Lew Acampora, offered to teach her the AP chemistry curriculum remotely. Acampora is a senior content director for science with , an organization promoting equitable access to Advanced Placement coursework for all Kentucky students.
鈥淚t was Lew鈥檚 zeal and commitment to expanding access to education that sparked my passion to do the same,鈥 O鈥橬eal said.
Her experience working with Acampora led O鈥橬eal to apply for an internship with AdvanceKentucky.
鈥淣ot only did one of my now coworkers teach me AP chemistry, but my high school was also a part of AdvanceKentucky鈥檚 College Readiness Program. Through this partnership, I received incentives to take and pass AP classes and exams as well as additional preparation for the exams,鈥 O鈥橬eal said. 鈥淚 knew how AdvanceKentucky positively impacted students because I was positively impacted by my participation.
鈥淪tudents should not be limited academically because of factors that they cannot control 鈥 location, race, gender identity, income, et cetera,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 hope to help curious students like me get the education they deserve.鈥
Following completion of her undergraduate degree, O鈥橬eal said she plans to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching and eventually complete a graduate degree in educational policy later in her career.
Barack and Michelle Obama and Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, created the Voyager Scholarship to help shape future leaders. Even though they come from different backgrounds, both the former president and Chesky believe that exposure to unfamiliar places and experiences generate understanding, empathy and cooperation which equips the next generation to create change.
The two-year scholarship program is open to students entering their junior year of college at an accredited four-year college or university in the U.S., who have demonstrated a financial need, and who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents or DACA recipients.
The 2024-26 cohort consists of 100 students from 44 states and territories, representing 88 colleges and universities across the United States.
About the UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards
The assists undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni in applying for external fellowships and scholarships funded by sources (such as government agencies or non-government foundations) outside the university. Interested students are encouraged to begin work with the office鈥檚 director, , well in advance of the scholarship deadline.