MACON, Ga. — Mercer University junior Alexander Marshall was chosen to receive the prestigious Voyager Scholarship for Public Service.
President and Mrs. Obama and Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO, recently announced their fourth cohort of 100 college juniors who plan to pursue careers in public service. The new cohort consists of students from 34 states and territories, representing 71 colleges and universities across the U.S. Marshall is Mercer’s first recipient for this prestigious award, according to a news release from Mercer University.
“The Voyager Scholarship is an extremely competitive award for young people who have a concrete vision for how they will change the world, skills and experience to demonstrate their ability and plan for how they will accomplish their goals,” said Dr. David A. Davis, director of fellowships and scholarships. “Alex’s recognition as a Voyager Scholar signifies that he will be a change maker in the future, and this program will escalate the scale of his impact.”
The scholarship is a two-year program that provides essential tools and resources to help students launch their careers in public service. The program includes up to $50,000 in financial aid, an immersive work-travel experience and access to a strong network of Obama Foundation leaders and mentors.
Marshall, from Augusta, is a law and public policy major with minors in military science and ethics. He spent the summer of 2023 interning with Augusta-Richmond County government.
“I am beyond honored to have been among the 100 students selected from across the country for the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service,” said Marshall. “It is not only a testament to the work that I have done in my community and my faith, but it signifies a return on my family’s and my community’s investment in me.”
At Mercer, Marshall serves as chairman of the Campus Safety and Improvement Committee for the Student Government Association and as a Samual F. Hart Community Mentor with the Office of Student Success. He was elected secretary of both the Order of Omega honor society and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Iota Eta Chapter. He is also a member of the 2024-2025 Leadership Mercer cohort and the Phi Eta Sigma honor society, and he participates in the Mercer Army ROTC program.
Benjamin James Hoyt, assistant professor of political science, met Marshall as a first semester freshman in his “Introduction to American Government” course.
“He is committed to service, serving to defend his country and serving in the shared governance of student affairs, all while remaining a thoughtful and capable student,” said Hoyt. “When I think about the guiding principles of the Voyager Scholarship, to support students who will change the world through public service, I cannot think of a more worthy candidate, or a person more likely to carry out that ambitious goal, than Alexander Marshall.”
After graduating, Marshall plans to attend law school and hopes to eventually work in a policymaking role in local government or at a state agency.
For more information about the Voyager Scholarship, visit obama.org/programs/voyager-scholarship/.
Augusta Good News is an award-winning member of the Georgia Press Association, receiving a second place General Excellence in 2025. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter here.
