{"id":533312,"date":"2022-09-14T16:31:02","date_gmt":"2022-09-14T20:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?p=533312"},"modified":"2026-03-20T14:25:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T18:25:20","slug":"laith-awad-named-recipient-of-inaugural-obama-sponsored-voyager-scholarship-for-public-service-533312","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/laith-awad-named-recipient-of-inaugural-obama-sponsored-voyager-scholarship-for-public-service-533312\/","title":{"rendered":"Laith Awad \u201924 receives inaugural Obama-sponsored Voyager Scholarship for public service"},"content":{"rendered":"

A first-generation college student, Awad aims to address systemic racism and socioeconomic disparities within health care.<\/h2>\n

Laith Awad \u201924, a double major in clinical and translational sciences and health, behavior, and society at the University of Rochester<\/a>, is one of 100 recipients of the inaugural Voyager Scholarship, the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Established last spring by the Obamas and Airbnb founder Brian Chesky, the award gives rising juniors who plan to pursue careers in public service up to $50,000 in financial aid and a $10,000 stipend in addition to free Airbnb housing to pursue a summer work-travel program. Furthermore, a 10-year travel stipend ($2,000 credit per year) is provided, and award recipients are invited to an ongoing network-building speaker series. The inaugural class<\/a> will be meeting this fall with former president Obama and Chesky to help define their public service paths and discuss the roles of empathy and leadership in public service. They will also hear from guest speakers on different approaches to service and connect with other scholarship recipients.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis scholarship will allow me to focus on a public service career instead of the burden of college debt,\u201d says Awad, a Caguas, Puerto Rico native who is Palestinian-Puerto Rican. \u201cI\u2019ll have the opportunity to expand my horizons with meaningful travel experiences. I\u2019m excited to gain access to a network of mentors and leaders who will support me throughout my public service journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 100 scholars come from 35 states and territories and 70 colleges and universities.<\/p>\n

Awad\u2019s activities span cultural and community service and academic disciplines in science and medicine <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Since his time at the university, Awad has served in leadership roles in the Puerto Rican Student Association<\/a> and Student Association for the Development of Arab Cultural Awareness<\/a> (SADACA). In addition to serving in a leadership capacity in student organizations, Awad has contributed to the campus community as a residential advisor, organic chemistry workshop leader, and Leadership Ambassador<\/a>. He also has been involved in a research laboratory at the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute<\/a> at the Medical Center since his first semester on campus, working with Dr. Jinjiang Pang. Awad is a two-time recipient of the Discover Grant for Undergraduate Summer Research.<\/p>\n

Awad, a Meliora Scholar<\/a> and recipient of the Wilder Leadership Scholarship<\/a>, volunteered through the Susan B. Anthony Center<\/a> to rebuild homes for refugees from Afghanistan. In the spring of 2020, he helped doctors to develop clinics in Puerto Rican cities affected by earthquakes.<\/p>\n

Belinda Redden, director of the Student Fellowships Office<\/a>, says she was \u201cvery excited to connect our public service-minded sophomores with such a potentially transformative opportunity.\u201d Fellowships coordinator Juliet Sullivan advised Awad through his application process and says he embodies the values of social justice and civic responsibility central to the Voyager Scholarship. \u201cBehind all of Laith\u2019s efforts\u2014both here and at home in Puerto Rico\u2014is his desire to make healthy, strong, diverse communities where differences are celebrated and people work together to lift up one another,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Awad\u2019s passion and career focus is combatting systemic racism and socioeconomic disparities in medicine and healthcare. His \u201cvoyage,\u201d sponsored as a part of the Obama-Chesky Scholarship, will embrace these ambitions. Awad says he aims to be \u201ca public servant who effects change in people\u2019s lives.\u201d Awad adds, \u201cI believe my purpose in life is to serve people. I\u2019m grateful to join this cohort of Voyagers, who all share a passion for helping others.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A first-generation college student and accomplished leader and scholar, Awad aims to address systemic racism and socioeconomic disparities within health care.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":672,"featured_media":559242,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[38462,18772,16072,41822],"class_list":["post-533312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-community","tag-class-of-2024","tag-department-of-public-health-sciences","tag-school-of-arts-and-sciences","tag-undergraduate-program-in-public-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLaith Awad \u201924 receives inaugural Obama-sponsored Voyager Scholarship for public service<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Laith Awad aims to address systemic racism and socioeconomic disparities in health care as a recipient of a Voyager Scholarship.\" 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