Employers need to engage students earlier with experiential learning opportunities to build stronger entry-level talent pipelines

Washington, DC — May 12, 2025 — A new national survey of more than 2,000 college juniors and seniors by Seramount, a global talent solution company, highlights a growing disconnect between student and employer perceptions of career readiness. Almost three-quarters of survey respondents believe they are or will be ready for entry-level roles when they graduate. Meanwhile, more than half of hiring managers surveyed in 2024 said that recent college grads are unprepared for the workforce.

Across the board, survey responses show strong student confidence in their career pathing and preparation:

• 72 percent of college juniors and seniors feel very confident that they are on the right path to landing a job aligned with their career goals.
• 70 percent believe they have a strong understanding of which jobs or career paths will be a good fit for them.
• 88 percent of students feel their coursework is adequately preparing them for entry-level roles in their chosen fields.

“This isn’t just a preparation gap—it’s a perception gap,” said Tom Brunskill, the general manager of Forage, Seramount’s job simulation platform. “Students feel ready because they’re doing well in class, but you can’t prepare for a marathon just by reading about running. Employers and colleges both have roles to play in ensuring students have the skills to meet workplace expectations.”

Survey findings also suggest many students have already defined their career plans by the time they declare a major. Nearly 90 percent of respondents say they chose their major with a specific job or career path in mind. This suggests employers who want to hire more recent graduates would benefit by engaging students earlier in their college journey.

The survey report, From Coursework to Careers, includes additional findings as well as recommendations for employers that include the following:

• Create online, experiential learning opportunities that allow students to practice day-to-day tasks associated with early-career roles within your organization asynchronously and at no cost to students.
• Establish partnerships with universities committed to promoting experiential learning opportunities to students early in their academic journeys, ideally by the end of their first year.
• Identify colleges where students are engaging with your company online in large numbers and make those schools a focus for on-campus recruiting.

“Internships, which require significant staff time to manage, are not going to supply enough skilled, early-career talent to meet employer demand,” Brunskill added. “Companies need to engage students before their junior or senior year and give them new ways to build the specific job skills they need to succeed in entry-level roles. At the same time, colleges need to emphasize career outcomes to show value to students, families, and accreditors—and traditional methods of career preparation are not enough.”

About Seramount

Seramount is a global talent services firm that helps HR leaders prepare for the workplace of tomorrow. We have over four decades of experience creating employee-centric strategies that align with business outcomes for our 600 partner organizations. By combining data-driven insights, expert research, advisory services, and innovative technology, we help unlock what’s possible with a truly engaged workforce. Seramount’s suite of talent solutions includes Forage virtual job simulations, which help organizations build more effective and inclusive hiring strategies. Learn more at https://seramount.com/.

Contact

John Michaels
jmichaels@eab.com

Five college-bound students will be eligible to win $3,000

PHOENIX (May 1, 2025): GradGuard, the leader of college renters and tuition insurance, is excited to announce the launch of its inaugural scholarship program. This initiative will award $3,000 scholarships to five exceptional college-bound students who demonstrate the importance of protecting themselves from the risks of college life.

“Higher education is often the second largest investment a family will make in their lifetime, after purchasing a home,” said John Fees, co-founder of GradGuard. “This scholarship program is an innovative way to help students think critically about the real risks of college life that often disrupt students’ education and gain insight into relevant protections.

GradGuard will award five $3,000 scholarships to high school seniors or college students who are enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university for the Fall 2025 semester. Students can apply by creating a 90-second video that shares insights on the risks and remedies available to the nearly 18 million college students enrolled in schools nationwide.

Some of the risks include:

• More than 1 in 3 currently enrolled students have considered stopping out of their degree or credential program within the last six months, according to a 2024 Gallup/Lumina Foundation Study.
• There have been an average of over 25,000 crime and safety incidents reported annually on college campuses since 2009, according to Clery Act Reports.
• There have been an average of 2,000 fires in on-campus student housing facilities, according to Clery Act Reports.

Videos should be submitted via the scholarship submission page by May 31, 2025. Videos will be published to promote awareness around National Insurance Awareness Day on June 28.

“While GradGuard’s pioneering tuition and renters insurance programs are relevant protections for college life, these scholarships aim to showcase the authentic stories from actual college students,” said Fees. “We’re excited to offer scholarships to help future students reach their academic goals.”

For more information or to apply, visit GradGuard’s scholarship submission page or email scholarships@gradguard.com.

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About GradGuard:

GradGuard is the authority on helping schools educate and protect students from the risks of college life. As the #1 source of college tuition and renters insurance, GradGuard’s pioneering protections have served more than 1.8 million students at more than 1,900 unique institutions.

To learn more, visit www.gradguard.com.

Contact:

Natalie Hubertus
Sr. Director, Marketing
602-341-5947
nhubertus@gradguard.com

 
WASHINGTON, DC, April 9, 2025 – Eighty-five percent of young adults (ages 18-26) want to talk more openly about sexual health and relationship topics with partners, according to a national survey recently published in the American Journal of Sexuality Education. These conversations can open the door to better relationships, sex, and sexual health, yet they are often anxiety-inducing, awkward, or avoided altogether. Own the Awk, a new multimedia campaign launched by the National Coalition for Sexual Health, aims to change that by building confidence and empowering young adults to navigate difficult, embarrassing conversations head on.

The need for this campaign is clear. Compared to other age groups, young adults are more likely to experience unhealthy relationships, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unplanned pregnancies.  At the same time, young adults report many barriers to open, honest communication, including fears that partners might judge or reject them, or that they might hurt a partner’s feelings. Yet 97% believe better communication skills would lead to better relationships, including increased safety and trust, getting closer to partner(s), determining if you’re on the same page about the relationship, and a better sex life.

However, according to this new research, many young adults never received comprehensive sex education and don’t have access to positive role models in their lives for healthy relationships and effective communications. So, when it comes to these awkward conversations, 40% turn to Google searches for help and one in three (33%) get advice from their female friends.

“Young adults today navigate a complex landscape of relationships without adequate preparation. Sharing is incredibly vulnerable – it can be really hard to do,” according to Shadeen Francis, Board Certified Sex Therapist, and President Elect of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). “The Own the Awk campaign is about equipping young people with skills that lead to stronger emotional connections, more satisfying sexual experiences, and better physical health.”

The “Own the Awk: Real Talk. Real Connection.” campaign offers interactive tools, practical tips, and actionable advice from certified sex educator and intimacy expert, Shan Boodram. Through humor, awkward portraits, and real-life scenarios, the campaign demonstrates how better, and even more intimate connections can emerge from awkward conversations on topics, including defining the relationship, sexual desires and pleasure, feelings, wants, and needs, safer sex, boundaries and consent, STIs, and communications 101.

Own the Awk’s engaging, interactive and free tools include:

• The “AwkLine” Videos – A couple, one awkward topic, and Shan Boodram, celebrity sexual health and relationship expert. Watch how healthy communication saves the day with the “AwkLine” in this five-episode video series on hot-button topics.
• “Gimme That Ask” Card Game – Fun, flirty and entertaining digital card decks with nearly 140 questions from spicy to sweet to spark conversations about sex, relationships, and dating. Great to play on your own, with a partner, or with friends.
• “Awk Talk Starters” Scripts – Feeling tongued-tied? Prepare for convos with 14 realistic scripts to help break the ice and keep talking about a variety of relationship and sexual health topics (in English and Spanish).
• “Own the Awk” Website – Build knowledge and skills on a variety of sexual health and relationship topics. Find practical tips, convo starters, and dive into discussions with confidence (in English and Spanish).
• Spread the Awk-Word – To promote Own the Awk on social media and other channels, use campaign graphics, captions, GIFs, stickers, and videos (in English and Spanish).

Ready to Own the Awk? You can access all of these resources and more at OwnTheAwk.org.

About the National Coalition for Sexual Health
The National Coalition for Sexual Health (NCSH) consists of over 300 leading sexual health organizations and individuals (e.g., Advocates for Youth, Futures without Violence, American College Health Association, Planned Parenthood, The Kinsey Institute, Power to Decide), working together to normalize sexual health conversations and improve the sexual health and well-being of people nationwide.

About the Own the Awk Campaign and the AJSE Research Publication
The Own the Awk campaign and its comprehensive online educational resources were created by NCSH in collaboration with experts and young adults, and in response to extensive research conducted by NCSH to explore young adults’ communications and relationship experiences.

Consisting of an online survey of 900 young adults and 16 focus groups with 79 additional young adults, the research findings were published in the American Journal of Sexuality Education, an academic peer-reviewed journal. You can access the article here, Uncovering What Matters to Young Adults: Communicating About Sexual Health & Relationships.

For Media Inquiries:
Lisa Guiterman
Email: lisa.guiterman@gmail.com
Cell: 202-330-3431

Young people ages 14-24 can apply by May 28 for funding, mentorship, and networking to support civic engagement projects they lead to improve their communities

PRINCETON, NJ, April 3^rd, 2025 – The Institute for Citizens & Scholars has launched an open call to find the next generation of changemakers ages 14-24 for the 2025-2026 cohort of The Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness. The program is seeking aspiring changemakers who are enthusiastic about building bridges and bringing people together, physically or virtually, to address real-world challenges their community faces.

This new initiative is looking for young people across the United States from all backgrounds, ideologies, and experiences, with a focus on ensuring diverse representation, including racial, geographic, and socioeconomic diversity, as well as communities where youth face barriers to civic development opportunities. Proposal topics can include but are not limited to climate change, criminal justice, education, community health & wellness, economic opportunity, environment, immigration, transportation, and/or elections. Applicants can learn more and apply here by May 28th at 9am ET.

Carnegie Young Leaders is funded through a $2,050,000 grant from the philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York. One hundred teams will be accepted into the program with team leads receiving $2,500 and their team members receiving $1,000 in stipends as well as an additional $1,000 to support project implementation costs. Selected teams will receive regular coaching from experienced and influential mentors to build their civic skills and knowledge, join a hands-on community of practice to learn from cohort members as they launch their respective projects, and join the growing Citizens & Scholars network, which includes 27,000 fellows across education, policy, and the private sectors.

This work is informed by recent insights from the Institute’s Civic Outlook of Young Adults in America, where 57% of the 4,000 respondents ages 18-24 stated they are dissatisfied with American democracy. Additionally, the report found that this younger generation is more distrustful of government institutions, less likely to vote than the general population, and lacks the critical civic knowledge needed to navigate the systemic problems they are facing. However, they also exhibit a lower degree of ideological and partisan polarization, are proud to be American, reject political violence, and collectively prioritize democratic values. As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, the Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness seeks to empower a network of leaders with the tools to collaborate productively, have difficult conversations, understand others, and make a lasting impact on the future of our nation.

“Young people aren’t waiting to lead—many already are,” said Audra Watson, Chief of Youth Civic Programs at the Institute for Citizens & Scholars. “With the Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness, we’re growing and investing in the next generation of civic leaders in every corner of the country. By 2026, we envision a youth-led movement that reflects the full diversity, creativity, and power of this generation.”

“As a young person, I know that my peers and I are constantly seeking out ways to positively impact our communities,” said Kilan White, a recent youth civic program participant of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars. “The Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness program invests in young people and empowers them to make big changes while growing as leaders.” “We are delighted to support the Institute for Citizens & Scholars in bringing young people from a wide range of backgrounds together to make meaningful contributions to their communities,” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie. “We believe that programs such as Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness will help to mobilize the innate idealism of young people and inculcate an appreciation of our democracy which will in turn reduce the corrosive effect of political polarization.”

“Young people bring an important perspective to address challenges and identify opportunities in their communities,” said LaVerne Evans Srinivasan, vice president of Carnegie’s National Program and program director of Education. “This initiative centers youth voice, providing the next generation with the support and tools to turn their ideas into meaningful action. Carnegie Corporation of New York is proud to support these emerging leaders dedicated to strengthening their communities and advancing our democracy.”

Learn more about the Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness program: ctzn-schlr.org/cyl

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About The Institute for Citizens & Scholars

The Institute for Citizens & Scholars (Citizensandscholars.org) equips young people with the civic skills necessary to navigate a divided country and become effective leaders. We partner with leaders in higher education, business, and philanthropy to design programs that build Gen Z’s abilities to find and use reliable information, engage in productive conversations, and collaborate across differences to strengthen America.

About Carnegie Corporation of New York

Carnegie Corporation of New York (Carnegie.org) was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace.

Media Contact

communications@citizensandscholars.org

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, today announced the recipients of a 2025 Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellowship. The $10,000 fellowships are designed to support active Society members in the dissertation writing stage of doctoral study.

This year’s class of fellows represents a group of 12 students spanning a number of academic disciplines from science and technology to arts and humanities.

The 2025 Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellows are:

• Ganesh Acharya, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• Jasmine Chananna, Eastern Michigan University
• Krysten Cruz, Texas State University
• Elizabeth R. Goldberg*, Texas Tech University
• Sandra Richy John, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
• Enya-Kalia Jordan, Texas Woman’s University
• Jiye Kwon, Yale University
• Margarita Torres Nowlin, Lamar University
• Kwaku Duah Oppong, The University of Texas at Austin
• Naresh Sah, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• Ridwan Islam Sifat, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Sonita Simelus, Mercer University

*Missy Hopper Dissertation Fellow

“Congratulations to the outstanding recipients of the 2025 Dissertation Fellowship. This award recognizes their commitment to the love of learning and their dedication to research and discovery, and we are honored to support their academic journey. I look forward to seeing how their work contributes to the advancement of knowledge and makes a lasting impact in their fields,” said Society Executive Director and CEO Bradley Newcomer.

The recipients were selected based on a number of criteria including how the fellowship will contribute to the completion of the dissertation, the significance of original research, and endorsement by the dissertation chair.

Established in 2014, the dissertation fellowships are part of the Society’s robust award and grants portfolio, which gives more than $1 million each year to outstanding students and members through study abroad grants, graduate fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.

To learn more about the Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellowship Program and this year’s recipients, please visit www.phikappaphi.org/dissertation.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society’s mission is to “cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.”  For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Media Contact
Alyssa Papa
Communications Director
apapa@phikappaphi.org
225-923-7777

Young Volunteers Coordinate National Bottle Recycling Effort, Keeping Over 76,500 Plastic Bottles Out of Landfills

DoSomething’s “Binfluencers” in California, Texas, and Louisiana Work to Address Recycling Issues In Their Communities 

DoSomething.org, the hub for youth-centered service and impact, new Talking Trash campaign  educates and equips Gen Z and Gen Alpha with the knowledge and tools to improve recycling in their communities and beyond. While some states have advanced recycling systems, others like California, Louisiana, and Texas lag in recycling rates, while producing high waste volumes. These states represent significant opportunities for impactful change.

Talking Trash aims to provide young people 25 and under with information that explains the state of recycling in their community, and then equips them with the tools needed to get engaged in recycling actions in their community through changed behavior and local action. This initiative is designed to mobilize young people to collect and recycle over 76,500 bottles in communities across the U.S., and share  their impact with the DoSomething community to inspire others to join the recycling movement.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN HERE: https://dosomething.org/action/50-bottles

As part of this effort, DoSomething collaborated with online influencer Summer Dean (@climatediva) and DoSomething member Katelyn Knox to create an engaging and creative PSA to demystify recycling and spark a new recycling movement for today’s young people.

WATCH THE PSA HERE: https://youtu.be/KX62rSh5A-s?feature=shared

DoSomething is offering an opportunity  to earn a $1,000 scholarship to participating BInfluencers nationwide. Here are stories of two DoSomething members taking action to recycle in their communities:

• Arman D., a DoSomething member from California, shared their experience saying: “My proposed solution is a community campaign called “Recycle Right,” focused on educating people about proper waste segregation. The campaign would include creating simple, visual guides for what can and cannot be recycled, distributing them in neighborhoods, schools, and online platforms. We could also organize fun, interactive workshops and challenges, like “Sort It Right” competitions, to engage people and teach proper recycling habits in an enjoyable way. Additionally, the campaign would work to improve signage on recycling bins, making them clear and consistent. Volunteers could monitor bins in public spaces and provide friendly reminders to encourage correct recycling. This solution will be effective because it addresses the root problem: lack of awareness and clarity. By educating and involving the community, we can create a sense of responsibility and make recycling a habit, leading to less waste contamination and a more sustainable future.”
• Aria M., a DoSomething member from Texas, added: “The City of Dallas requires residents to drive to specific scrap yards and e-waste plants to recycle car parts and electronics, making recycling inaccessible for those without access to a car. To address this, I plan to create dedicated community drop-off zones for these materials, with regular pickups. I would partner with Okon Metals to manage recycling logistics and collaborate with local dry cleaners to recycle metal hangers, incentivizing residents to participate. Additionally, I would advocate for updating the Dallas website to recommend local metal recycling facilities like Okon Metals instead of instructing residents to throw metal car parts in the trash. To raise awareness, I would host metal drives in each Dallas district with Okon Metals, providing an opportunity for residents to recycle stockpiled, non-dallas-accepted recyclable metals.”

“Did you know that 73% of people in the U.S. have access to recycling, yet only 43% of households are participating? We can do better,” said DeNora Getachew, CEO of DoSomething.org. “If we were to fully recycle the 20 million tons of household recyclables that are thrown in the trash, we would reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 96 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. We’d achieve the same effect as taking more than 20 million cars off U.S. highways – all from recycling!”

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CONTACT

Madison | madison@unbendablemedia.com

 

Handshake, the career platform for Gen Z, released its 2025 Internship Index outlining the current internship landscape. Based on survey data from over 6,000 students and recent grads, plus job creation and application trends from across the Handshake network, there are several trends shaping the internship outlook for students.

Competition is rising

Internship competition has significantly increased. By January 2025, 41% of the Class of 2025 had already applied to at least one internship through Handshake; compared to just 34% of the Class of 2023 at the end of their senior year.

Meanwhile, more students are competing for fewer positions as internship availability dropped by more than 15% between January 2023 and January 2025.

The tech and professional services industries are especially competitive, receiving about twice as many applications per internship compared to the overall average. These sectors have seen internship postings decline by more than 30% since 2022, but maintain extremely strong applicant interest.

Timing is everything

September and January are peak intern recruiting months for most industries, but smaller employers tend to recruit year-round. Government, manufacturing, and transportation sectors also frequently hire outside these core fall and spring recruitment seasons. Prospective interns who worry they’ve missed their chance to land a summer gig should consider expanding their industry interests, or pursuing opportunities with smaller-name companies.

Four steps to succeed in the job search

Christine Cruzvergara, Chief Education Officer at Handshake and career expert, shares her four steps for any student looking for an internship or full-time job.

1. Curate Your Documents: Your resume, cover letter, and Handshake profile are your personal brand story. Focus on both breadth and depth to showcase who you are.
2. Do Your Research: Build knowledge at both macro and micro levels. Understand industry trends and hiring timelines, but also dive deep into specific employers and roles.
3. Network Strategically: Connect with industry professionals, alumni, and peers. Even a 15-minute virtual coffee chat can open doors. Remember, networking doesn’t end when you get an offer.
4. Start Your Search: …but only after completing steps 1-3. The biggest mistake students make is skipping research and networking, then wondering why they’re not hearing back from applications.

Internships remain a powerful tool for shaping career goals and building professional pathways. Want to learn more about navigating today’s internship landscape? Visit a university career center and explore the Handshake app.

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About Handshake

Handshake is the career platform for Gen Z. With a community of over 17 million students, alumni, employers, and career educators, Handshake’s network is where career advice and discovery turn into first, second, and third jobs. Nearly 1 million companies use Handshake to build their future workforce—from Fortune 500 to federal agencies, school districts to startups, healthcare systems to small businesses. Handshake is built for where you’re going, not where you’ve been.

Media Contact

Heidi Hagberg
Heidi.hagberg@joinhandshake.com

Program supports Business, Economics and STEM students in the United States and United Kingdom

BOSTON, MA (March 18, 2025) – Global consulting firm Charles River Associates (CRA) today announced the opening of the third cycle of the CRA All-Access Scholarship, an annual talent development pipeline program that supports twelve students pursuing degrees in Business, Economics or STEM with $5,000 awards.

Originally launched in the United States in 2023 as a program of the company’s All-Access Initiative, the All-Access Scholarship has since expanded to the United Kingdom and awarded scholarships to student members of CRA’s partner, Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO London). To be eligible, an applicant must be attending an accredited university as a full-time college sophomore/penultimate year student and majoring in Business, Economics or STEM with an overall GPA of 3.5. (US) or 2.1 (UK). Ideal candidates demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, community service, and financial need.

“The All-Access Initiative and Scholarship reaffirm CRA’s commitment to increasing access to business, economics, and STEM for high-achieving students from all backgrounds who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, community service, and financial need,” said Raquel Tamez, CRA’s Chief Inclusion & Engagement Officer. “We want to support these students in persisting with their studies and achieving their academic goals. I encourage all eligible applicants to apply and take advantage of this opportunity to further their education and future careers.”

The 2025-26 CRA All-Access Scholarship application deadline is April 25, 2025. For more information and to begin the application process, interested students should visit crai.com/cra-all-access-scholarship.

This program is administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services Inc., an independent company that specializes in managing sponsored educational assistance programs.

About Charles River Associates (CRA)

Charles River Associates® is a leading global consulting firm specializing in economic, financial, and management consulting services. CRA advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings, and guides corporations through critical business strategy and performance-related issues. Since 1965, clients have engaged CRA for its unique combination of functional expertise and industry knowledge, and for its objective solutions to complex problems. Headquartered in Boston, CRA has offices throughout the world. Detailed information about Charles River Associates, a registered trade name of CRA International, Inc., is available at www.crai.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

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Media Contact

Carissa Willcoxon
Director of Marketing | ISTS
cwillcoxon@applyISTS.com
(615) 777-3735

Classes cancelled, campus a ghost town, sporting events half full.  It’s safe to say this semester on our college campuses, and on campuses around the country things are not the same.

Flu has wiped out a lot of the usual activities.

It’s worrisome for both of us—because in our family, it’s ‘not just the flu’.

For us, flu is different—it’s deeply personal.  Before either of us were born, my parents lost our sister Jessica to the flu when she was only four years old.

Jessica and our older brother, Eric who was two at the time both came down with a virus which was later confirmed as the flu that was going through their pre-school.  Both recovered after a few days, but a couple of weeks later, Jess was sick again.  My parents brought her to the hospital on the advice of our doctor, who was concerned she may have been dehydrated.

However, once at the hospital, they ran a slew of tests and discovered Jess’ heart was enlarged.  At the time, her heart was still beating—until it stopped suddenly.  The doctors worked to revive Jess, but they were unsuccessful.

The loss of Jessica has defined our family ever since.  But our parents turned that grief into action and were among a small group of parents who all had lost kids to the flu around the same time and formed Families Fighting Flu—a now national organization with a mission to keep influenza from impacting any other family.  The best way to do that is through vaccination.

Neither Jessica nor Eric was vaccinated when they got sick—not because my parents didn’t believe in vaccines, but because at the time, kids their age were not recommended to get vaccinated.  My parents and the rest of Families Fighting Flu worked hard to change that—and our family stories played a large part in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to changing the recommendation for the annual flu vaccine to include everyone 6 months and older to be vaccinated.

Clearly, in our family getting our flu shot is just something we always do.  But it’s clear that’s not the case for our classmates.

It’s frustrating to know that so much of the illness that’s going around campus, and the country can be prevented.  It’s frightening knowing that so many people are sick, and the complications that can result from the flu—missed classes and other events, yes but also more serious impacts like cognitive and mental health issues, long term lung issues and amputations.

We try and tell our friends our story, so that they understand how serious flu can be and the very real impact that it has had on us our entire lives.

We continue to urge everyone to get a flu shot—even now it’s not too late.  As many of our classmates are planning spring break trips—that plan must include getting vaccinated.

Whether you’re heading home or heading somewhere warm—you don’t want to bring the flu with you.

It’s easy to think that you’re invincible when you are our age.  But it’s not just young kids and older people who are susceptible to the flu.  Our friend Kaitlyn, who we know through Families Fighting Flu because she lost her cousin to the flu and is a freshman at the University of Florida nearly died in October from the flu.

Johnny Stein is a Senior at Purdue University.  Katie Stein is a Sophomore at Indiana University.  Both are volunteers with Families Fighting Flu.

Contact info:

Johnny Stein
Johnstein0524@gmail.com

Katie Stein
kjs17x@gmail.com

This scholarship provides financial support, travel-based learning opportunities, and access to a global network of leaders for 100 students pursuing careers in public service.

CHICAGO – Today, the Obama Foundation opened applications for the 2025-2027 Voyager Scholarship, the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service. Funded by a $100 million contribution from Airbnb CEO and Co-Founder Brian Chesky, the scholarship provides college students with last-dollar financial aid to help alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences, opportunities to connect with new communities, and access to a network of mentors and leaders to support them throughout their careers.

Now in its fourth year, the Voyager Scholarship continues to reflect the Obama Foundation and Chesky’s dedication to empowering young leaders to address the world’s most complex issues through bridging divides and public service. The scholarship helps students refine their values-based leadership approach, build bridges across communities, and nurture their sense of curiosity as they deepen their commitment to pursuing public service careers.

Voyager Scholarship recipients receive a $10,000 stipend and free housing in Airbnb listings to pursue a summer work-travel experience, or “Summer Voyage,” of their design between their junior and senior years of college. Students design their own Summer Voyage to gain exposure to new communities and deepen their experience in their chosen field. Last summer, the 2023-2025 cohort of Voyagers returned from their Summer Voyages to 63 countries and 33 U.S. states and territories. During their Summer Voyages, students participate in internships, volunteer experiences, and research opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of the issues they care about most.

Learn more about the third cohort of Voyager Scholarship recipients here.

The application deadline for the Voyager Scholarship for Public Service is April 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM United States Central Time (UTC-6). The Obama Foundation will award the scholarship to 100 students from colleges and universities across the United States and its territories. Voyager Scholarship for Public Service recipients receive:

• Up to $50,000 in financial aid: Students will receive up to $25,000 per year in “last dollar” financial aid for their junior and senior years of college. This financial aid helps alleviate the burden of college debt so that students can afford to pursue a career in public service after graduation.
• Summer Voyage: Students will receive a $10,000 stipend and free housing in Airbnb listings to pursue a summer work-travel experience between their junior and senior year of college. Students design their own Summer Voyage to gain exposure to new communities and experience in a chosen field.
• 10-year Travel Stipend: After graduation, Airbnb will provide the students with a $2,000 travel credit every year for 10 years, a total of $20,000. This allows students to continue to grow their expertise and forge new connections throughout their public service careers.
• Monthly Virtual Sessions: Students must participate in monthly virtual programming sessions, including speaker series and mentorship roundtables, Summer Voyage design workshops, and Summer Voyage coaching sessions, to ensure they make the most out of their experience.
• Fall Summit: During their Junior Year, Voyagers have the option to attend an in-person convening where they engage in community-building activities with fellow Voyagers, build their leadership skills, and learn from leaders in public service.
• Network of Leaders: Throughout the program, students have access to the Voyager network of leaders, comprised of fellow Voyagers, Obama Leadership Network alumni, and mentors. This network gives students a support system as they begin in their fields. After graduation, students join the Obama Foundation’s global community, providing them with Foundation resources and programming.

For more information about the Voyager Scholarship, including the application process and answers to frequently asked questions, visit voyager-scholarship.obama.org.

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Media Contact

Carissa (Miller) Willcoxon
Director of Marketing | ISTS
cwillcoxon@applyISTS.com
(615) 777-3735