Anjie Oludayo graduated jointly from Pitt’s School of Pharmacy and the Frederick Honors College in 2025 with a BS in Pharmaceutical Science. As a sophomore, she was awarded an Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service to support a global summer voyage from Pittsburgh to Nigeria.
All it took was a phone call—a phone call that changed my life. At the time, I was a sophomore deeply immersed in a pre‑pharmacy major when a mutual friend reached out to tell me about a scholarship program he believed would be a perfect fit for me. He introduced me to the Voyager Scholarship for Public Service, a program I had never heard of before. As I began researching the scholarship, excitement quickly turned into doubt. The prestige of a national award affiliated with a presidential foundation felt far beyond my reach. For nearly a month, I wrestled with my fear before finally finding the courage to apply. I submitted my application with just days remaining, choosing faith over fear. When I received the “Congratulations!” email, I was overwhelmed with emotion. That moment ignited a renewed determination to empower both myself and others through my Voyage.
For my Summer 2024 Voyage, I pursued a project focused on substance use disorders and vaccination efforts. I collaborated closely with healthcare professionals—nurses, physicians, and fellow healthcare students—to provide basic medical screenings to underserved communities. Many of the individuals we served were battling substance use disorders ranging from locally produced hallucinogens to large‑scale illicit drugs. My work took me across two distinct yet interconnected regions: downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Ogun State, Nigeria. These experiences exposed me to the global and systemic nature of healthcare disparities and reinforced my commitment to public service.
Through these experiences, I became even more motivated to use my pharmacy degree to advocate for patients with substance use disorders and to bridge gaps in equitable healthcare access while improving quality of life. I am currently pursuing my PharmD degree at the University of Pittsburgh, where I have continued my work with the support of both the university and the extensive resources provided by the Obama Foundation. Through the Voyager Scholarship, I was able to receive reimbursement for conferences and speaking engagements related to my projects, expanding my professional and academic growth.
In addition, I have paid this opportunity forward by helping other pharmacy students apply for scholarships through mentorship programs. Even during my time in the 2023–2025 Voyager cohort, the Honors College remained actively engaged in my progress, continuously checking in and offering support. I am forever grateful for the doors this scholarship opened—not only for me, but also for the many others whose lives and careers it has touched.