Dylan

Dylan’s journey to college wasn’t the straight path he envisioned. He started at a four-year university, but life circumstances made it difficult for him to continue his education. He moved to Chicago and knew he wanted to return to school, but he needed a place that supported him as a non-traditional student.

Dylan soon found that City Colleges offered a more accessible and affordable way forward. He lived near Harry S Truman College and discovered that the college aligned with both his interests and schedule. At 27, Dylan returned to school and enrolled in Truman’s Urban Studies program. While navigating transfer requirements to maintaining academic expectations, there was no shortage of encouragement. That support would prove especially important when an advisor introduced Dylan to the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service, a program that supports students interested in pursuing careers in public service and provides up to $25,000 per year to complete their undergraduate studies.

The application process included several essays and a two-minute video interview. Dylan sought feedback from his physical geography instructor, Professor Monika Moore, who reviewed his essays, offered notes, and helped him strengthen his statements. Dylan decided to tell his life story. He highlighted his earlier commitment to leadership and service, acknowledged the challenges that interrupted his educational journey, and explained how his experiences navigating adulthood and building a life in Chicago brought back his passion for community building and public service.

“I was like, well, let me talk about that,” he said. “I was a very devoted, committed, and studious high school student. I was very involved, and then life happened. But how do you advance from there? How do you keep going?”

After submitting his application in March, Dylan learned in May that he had been named a finalist. Then, on August 6, the email finally arrived, delivering the news that he had been waiting for all summer. He was named a 2026-2028 Obama-Chesky Voyager.

“I’m excited to see what happens,” Dylan said. “We’ve started putting our ideas together, and I’m just excited to see where we go and how I can use this to build what I want to do.”

For Dylan, this scholarship represents more than financial support. It offers an opportunity to explore his interests, connect with other young leaders, and build a vision for the kind of impact he hopes to make.

Looking back, Dylan credits City Colleges with helping him find a way back into higher education and providing the guidance and encouragement he needed to take the next step. That support helped him recognize the possibilities ahead.