Luke McDermott, Labor Advocate and Scholarship Winner

Be a Resource

The Obama-Chesky Voyager scholarship, which includes a summer’s worth of international travel for experiential learning, a pool of countless networking connections, and $50,000 towards the winner’s education, was perfect for Luke McDermott. As a sophomore in college and a fresh face in the world of political science, his prospects were expensive as they were great. There was just one problem: the lengthy, complicated application was due during finals week. Was it worth McDermott’s time to apply?

“There was a part of me that was like, ‘I don’t think I’m gonna get it. I should just focus on my finals.’” McDermott said. “But I knew I would regret not applying… so I did.”

“Even if you don’t win,” he added, “with every scholarship application you learn a little more about yourself.”

Now a rising senior in college, Obama-Chesky Voyager recipient McDermott is putting his passion in action. “I just started my Voyage,” he explained, “so I’m in Barcelona right now, and I’ll go to Grenada, and then Madrid, and then…”

McDermott, originally from Omaha, Nebraska, has been invested in politics his entire life. As a child, he witnessed firsthand the disparity between the labor union-protected and non-unionized workplaces in his hometown.

“Seeing the difference in the working conditions got me thinking about the wide spectrum of working conditions that all Americans are exposed to,” said McDermott.

“Nebraska is not a big higher education hub,” he added. “It can be hard to find people who have similar aspirations [to you].” So McDermott is especially grateful for the networking opportunities that abound from the scholarships he’s won.

“In this process of picking up smaller scholarships and building the skill of actually applying for things, Scholarships.com has been especially helpful, because I’m able to find scholarships that I never would have heard of without the search function to be able to find them.”

But McDermott’s scholarship search didn’t end with those competitive, big-name funds. “If you’re in the pool of people who are going to be applying to them, you’re going to hear about them regardless,” he said. “That’s really just the tip of the iceberg, and there’s a lot more scholarships beyond that.”

McDermott himself is also the recipient of a number of small, local scholarships, all of which he feels have contributed to his undergraduate success.

“In this process of picking up smaller scholarships and building the skill of actually applying for things, Scholarships.com has been especially helpful, because I’m able to find scholarships that I never would have heard of without the search function to be able to find them,” explained McDermott.

In his experience, winning scholarships is a skill, and the best way to practice is to apply. “Even if you don’t win,” he added, “with every scholarship application you learn a little more about yourself.” The process is valuable on its own.

Overall, though, the most fulfilling part of McDermott’s scholarship success is his ability to bring about real improvement in his field without fearing student debt. As a part of his Obama-Chesky Voyage, for example, he will travel to Ecuador to investigate and bring attention to actual labor violations as they occur, making the very change he dreamed of back home.

“If you’re in the pool of people who are going to be applying to [big name scholarships], you’re going to hear about them regardless,” he said. “That’s really just the tip of the iceberg, and there’s a lot more scholarships beyond that.”

“I’ve tried to be a resource for other students, especially those from Nebraska,” he said, encouraging his peers to pursue their passion, no matter how impossible it can sometimes seem. “Have the audacity to think that you can win.”

Find more details about the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship and be sure to sign up to receive your personalized scholarship matches on Scholarships.com!