Contact: Crystal Drake, Office of Communications and Marketing
Carrington Thompson, a junior Plant and Soil Science major from Arkansas, has been selected as a 2025-2027 Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship recipient.
The scholarship gives students financial aid up to $50,000 to alleviate the burden of college debt, and access to a network of mentors and leaders to support them throughout the experience. The program also underwrites a customized work-travel experience with $10,000 and Airbnb credits known as the Summer Voyage, that students create for themselves in alignment with the Foundation’s belief that exposure to new places and experiences generates understanding, empathy, and cooperation, which equips the next generation to create meaningful change.
“We are celebrating Carrington’s selection and extending our gratitude to the Obamas and Brian Chesky for creating opportunities for students like ours to leave college with little or no debt,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, President and CEO. “Like other Tuskegee students, Carrington is being trained to solve the world’s most complex problems and this acknowledgement and support is an indication that he is well on his way.”
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore my dreams and aspirations around public service” said Thompson. “My hope is to visit suburban, rural and international places, to see the different paths people are choosing to sustain and adjust to whatever environment they may be in, for instance drought. We can take experiences from other places and apply them here to help others.”
Thompson is the first Voyager from Arkansas. His uncle and a family friend, who are both agriculture professionals, sparked what became Thompson’s passion for agriculture as a career and as a way of life. “Watching them both inspired me,” he said.
He became a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA) while in high school and when he arrived at Tuskegee as a freshman and discovered there was no chapter at the school, he started one. The chapter is currently operating in a partnership with the Macon County Career Tech FFA.
The importance of family sealed the deal for Carrington when it came time to continue his agriculture journey in college.
“Since I am going to be eight hours from home, I want to be in a family environment with people that care about me,” he said. “I had always heard of Tuskegee but hadn’t had a chance to do a deep dive into it. Once I did, I realized this is the place I needed to be to be successful.”
Tuskegee University’s College of Agriculture, Environment, and Nutrition Sciences has been like a home away from home for Carrington ever since.
The self-described “country boy from Arkansas” encourages others to believe in big ideas and expand their view of what is possible. “If an opportunity presents itself, take it because you never what it’s going to lead you to.”
“Carrington’s achievement represents the very essence of the Tuskegee legacy,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, president and CEO of Tuskegee University. “From a small town in Arkansas, to Tuskegee and on to solving the world’s biggest problems. We are thrilled that a Golden Tiger will join other Voyagers in this unique opportunity to learn, grow and make the world a better place.”
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