Baruch Student Isabel Torres Receives Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship

October 29, 2025

Baruch College undergraduate Isabel Torres (’27) has been selected as a 2025-2027 Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholar that will help her pursue a career in public service.

Torres, who transferred from Queensborough Community College to Macaulay at Baruch College, is among 100 students from across the nation who will participate in this two-year leadership development program. A student-athlete for the women’s volleyball team, she is the second Baruch recipient to win this award.

“As someone who has never traveled outside the United States, I see this as a rare chance to study how other countries support youth opportunity and mobility and compare that to communities in New York City,” said Torres, a public affairs major at the Marxe School of Public Affairs with a minor in NYC studies.

Established by former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and Brian Chesky, the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, the scholarships are awarded by The Obama Foundation to provide opportunities for young people to enter public service through a two-year program focusing on education, mentoring, and career development.

Voyager Scholars receive up to $50,000 toward college expenses over their junior and senior years, as well as $10,000 and free housing for a self-designed work-travel experience, or “summer voyage.” They also have access to mentors and advisors throughout the program. After graduation, Airbnb will provide the students with a $2,000 Airbnb travel credit every year for 10 years, totaling $20,000, “to continue to broaden their horizons and forge new connections throughout their public service careers.”

A Future Champion of Access and Opportunity

Motivated by her personal story, Torres aims to use the Voyager Scholarship to pursue her goal of creating equitable educational opportunities for all students.

“I was the student who did not have confidence to dream big and pursue something larger than what was in front of me,” Torres explains. “I chose to be a Union Plumber’s apprentice directly after high school because I thought I was not capable of succeeding in college. Two years later I have proved that I belong here, and I have been thriving since!”

By participating in the Voyager Scholarship, Torres hopes to gain the knowledge and global exposure needed to expand education and remove systemic barriers so that students from all socioeconomic backgrounds can reach their full potential.

“This scholarship gives me the mentorship, funding, and network support to actually bring my ideas to life,” Torres says. “I want to design experiences for my Summer Voyage that expose low-income youth to careers, cultures, and ideas beyond their immediate environment — whether through workshops, educational programs, or other hands-on experiences.”

Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities

Learn more about the Voyager program and other opportunities by contacting Baruch College’s Office of National and Prestigious Fellowships Advising, which provides insight, guidance and logistical support to any student or alumni who is considering applying for a nationally competitive scholarship.

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