D’Laveance Bert-Sims is Ohio State’s newest recipient of the Voyager Scholarship for Public Service!
Deeply committed to knowing the communities he has the pleasure of serving, Bert-Sims is at his best while in the field organizing and advocating for active transportation for the City of Columbus. His many years of navigating the city via COTA buses have affirmed his goal of creating more reliable, effective, and accessible public resources for the greater community.
Through positions as a student intern with the City of Columbus Department of Public Service’s Division of Mobility & Parking Services and the student representative to Ohio State’s Active Transportation Advisory Group, Bert-Sims is expanding his policy and technical expertise to transform lived experience to practical transportation solutions and provide community engagement programming. He hopes to continue his professional development as a regional planner and practitioner with plans to use his experience to drive change in Columbus and at the national level, ensuring all Americans have access to reliable, fast, and affordable transportation options.
As an Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship recipient, Bert-Sims intends to pursue an internship with transportation planners in Spain. He hopes to explore how factors such as governance, funding, and public expectations influence service delivery and outcomes for residents. Ultimately, Bert-Sims wants to walk away from this opportunity with fresh perspective on his experience in the United States while connecting with the cohort of up-and-coming leaders from across the country.
Bert-Sims is a third-year Morrill Scholar at Ohio State, majoring in City and Regional Planning, Public Management, Leadership, and Policy, and minoring in Geographic Information Science.
About the Voyager Scholarship:
The Voyager Scholarship was created by the Obamas and Brian Chesky, CEO and Co-Founder of Airbnb to help shape young leaders.
The two-year scholarship program is open to students entering their junior year of college at an accredited four-year college or university in the US, who have demonstrated a financial need, and who are US citizens, US nationals, permanent residents, or DACA recipients.
The 2026-2028 cohort of 100 students represents 39 states and territories and 68 colleges and universities, with students from Wyoming and Alaska selected for the scholarship for the first time. First-generation college students make up 61 percent of the cohort, reflecting a broad pipeline of talent from families and communities new to higher education. This reach brings a rich mix of perspectives and experiences that will strengthen each Voyager’s service on campus and in their communities.
The scholarship gives college students financial aid to alleviate the burden of college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their horizons, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them. For more information, check out the Voyager website.
