Heber City native, Mary Hurner, is the latest Park City High School graduate to be rewarded for her academic explorations, namely her expedition into social justice.
Hurner, who graduated in 2020 and is now studying public policy at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, recently discovered she was one of 100 winners of the inaugural Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship.
Sponsored by former President Barack Obama and Airbnb Chief Executive Officer Brian Chesky, the scholarship aims to expose students interested in public service to new places and experiences, equipping them with the knowledge to become society’s future leaders and create meaningful change.
Hurner said she was “over the moon” when she found out about winning.
“I’m so excited,” she gushed. “I’m really interested in public service, but it’s kind of hard to figure out exactly what you want to do on your own. Having the support and feeling like there’s people on your side is a really good feeling to have.”
As a recipient, Hurner will receive up to $50,000 in financial aid for her final two years of college, along with a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing to use on a Summer Voyage, a work-travel journey to explore communities and career paths.
Hurner remarked that she’s still figuring out where she wants to go.
“It’s a big thing because I could do some kind of internship in the U.S., or I could focus on going abroad,” she said. “What’s great is that the Obama Foundation pairs you with a coach, and you get to go through a couple of training sessions that help you find what you really want to do.”
Right now, Hurner thinks she wants to build off some of her previous pursuits and “do something with refugee issues abroad.”
Last year, she worked with a refugee center in Utica, New York, helping young refugees from around the world adjust to their new environment.
“It was a great program because I was able to work directly with my supervisor and help her plan events to connect local young refugees to the area,” Hurner said. “What I loved about it was that I met so many people from completely different backgrounds than myself that I never would’ve met otherwise.”
Hurner hopes her Summer Voyage will allow her to pursue similar endeavors across the globe.
“I’m interested in what organizations are in the field helping refugees get access to resettlement resources and how accessible the resettlement process is,” she said. “I’m trying to find an organization I could volunteer with or intern for that focuses on the refugee resettlement process and getting refugees the resources they need.”
Whatever Hurner ends up doing, she’s excited about the many opportunities she’ll receive and the barriers her scholarship will help reduce.
“One of the reasons this scholarship was established is because the Obama Foundation wants to help students going into public service figure out their path and also with some of the financial burdens faced in public service work,” she said. “Public service is not always a lucrative job, so it’s about making it a more accessible career.”
In addition to pursuing her interests in the field, Hurner is also honing her skills in the classroom. At Hamilton, she says her most interesting classes have focused on issues like homelessness, community wellness and healthcare access.
Besides studying public policy, Hurner is minoring in French. During high school, Hurner won the statewide title of World Languages Sterling Scholar. Now, she hopes to use her French background to enhance her public service work.
“I’m studying abroad in Paris this coming spring,” Hurner said. “From there, I’m hoping to maybe find a way to incorporate French into some of my professional work. It’s so beneficial to speak another language, and I want to be able to put that to good use in my life.”
Hurner notes that her best advice to current high schoolers is to stay motivated and keep seeking new opportunities.
“The main thing is just to stay passionate about what you’re interested in and keep pursuing things that fit with those interests,” she said. “It sometimes requires stepping out of your comfort zone a little bit, but it’s so worth it.”