PO woman receives public service award to study sustainable agriculture

PO woman receives public service award to study sustainable agriculture

Alexandra Piccio of Port Orchard has earned a spot in the third cohort of the Voyager Fellowship for public service recipients, former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama and Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky announced Aug. 27.

The two-year program was created to give a jump start to young U.S. college students who want to pursue a career in public service.

Piccio moved to Port Orchard from the Philippines at age 6 and attended South Colby Elementary before attending middle and high schools outside the South Kitsap School District. Now a junior studying global liberal studies at New York University, she is one of 100 students from 88 colleges in 44 states and territories who have earned a spot in the class of 2024-26.

“I didn't tell anyone (except my family) that I applied for this,” Piccio said. “It's a once in a lifetime opportunity that not many people get.”

The scholarship offers students financial assistance of up to $50,000, which Piccio said will help cover the remaining costs of their NYU studies.

It will also provide a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb accommodations for a summer work-travel experience between students' third and fourth years, as well as access to mentoring from a network of Obama Foundation leaders. Upon completion of the program, recipients will receive a $2,000 Airbnb stipend annually for 10 years.

“When Michelle, Brian and I launched the Voyager Fellowship in 2022, we were excited to see what young people with a passion for public service could accomplish when given the right support,” Barack Obama said in a press release. “The past two cohorts have demonstrated tremendous passion, curiosity and collaboration.”

Piccio is now tasked with planning her own summer trip, which will focus on studying food systems around the world to help change farming practices toward sustainability and ethics. “In particular, factory farming and livestock farming.”

Piccio said she had some ideas about where she could gain experience. “Especially Sweden, because it is one of the leaders in sustainable agriculture. So I wanted to find out what they do differently there.”