Chinese Flagship News

(top row: Kassius Berry, Sophia Brannen, Gloria Bryant, Ellie Burdette; second row: Justine Davis, Joshalyn Hamilton, Ally Kincaid, Zane McCauley; third row: Nathan Meredith, Emmy Potter, Guadalupe Ramirez Vazquez, Valerie Redman; fourth row: Priscilla Riggs, Kimberly Salyers, Danielle Williams, Athziry Zetina)

18 WKU students earned the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad in the March 2024 application cycle, more than any other college or university in Kentucky.

(See full list of Gilman recipients in the March 2024 cycle here)

The Gilman Scholarship broadens the student population that studies or interns abroad by supporting undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints. The 18 recipients in this application cycle earned scholarships totaling $68,000 with an average award amount of $3,700. 

Of those who worked with the Office of Scholar Development, 49% of WKU applicants were named recipients. The average national selection rate for the Gilman Scholarship over the past five years is 25.8%.

Recipients of the award represent the diversity of WKU: 100% are Pell Grant-eligible students, 50% are first-generation college students, 33% are students of color, and 11% are enrolled at one of WKU’s regional campuses.

18 students were awarded funding, including the following:

Kassius Berry of Henderson is the son of Amy Bassett. He is an environmental, sustainability, and geography studies major with a minor in business administration. He earned the scholarship to study in Ireland in Summer 2024.

Sophia Brannen of Lexington is the daughter of Anna Brannen and Joe Brannen. She is a health sciences and citizenship and social justice double major with a minor in Spanish. She earned the scholarship to study in Tanzania in Summer 2024.

Gloria Bryant of McCreary County is the daughter of Misty Bryant and Dewey Bryant. A first-generation college student, she is a psychology and management double major with a concentration in business administration. She earned the scholarship to study in Costa Rica in Spring 2025.

Ellie Burdette is the daughter of Rob and Nicole Burdette. She is a management major with a concentration in business administration. She earned the scholarship to study in Spain in Fall 2024.

Justine Davis of Georgetown is the daughter of Jennifer Davis and Christopher Davis. She is an international affairs and Chinese double major with a minor in music. She earned the Gilman-Taiwan scholarship to study in Taiwan for the 2024-25 Academic Year.

Joshalyn Hamilton of Tompkinsville is the daughter of Damarcus Hamilton and Tasha Blankenship. A first-generation college student, she is a human resource management major and earned the scholarship to study in Senegal in Summer 2024.

Francesca Harris of Ewing is the daughter of Kristina Vargo and Brian Harris. She is a management major with a concentration in supply chain management and a certificate in applied data analytics. She earned the Gilman-IIE BWS scholarship to study in Germany in Spring 2025.

Ally Kincaid of Owensboro is the daughter of Rhonda Shelton and Dan Shelton, Jr. A first-generation college student, she is a special education major and earned the scholarship to complete her student teaching in Ireland in Spring 2025.

Zane McCauley of Bowling Green is the son of Melody McCauley and Travis VanMeter. He is an agriculture major with a concentration in animal science. He earned the scholarship to study in South Africa in Summer 2024.

Nathan Meredith of Clarkson is the son of Sarah and Greg Meredith. He is a biology and psychological science double major with a minor in neuroscience. He earned the scholarship to study in New Zealand in Spring 2025.

Emmy Potter of Louisville is a biology and psychological science double major with minors in chemistry and American Sign Language. She earned the scholarship to study in Senegal in Summer 2024.

Kennedy Potter of Nashville, Tennessee is a political science major with a minor in Spanish. She earned the scholarship to study in Senegal in Summer 2024.

Guadalupe Ramirez Vazquez of Bowling Green is the daughter of Oscar Ramirez and Adriana Vazquez. A first-generation college student, she is an architectural science major and earned the scholarship to study in Spain in Summer 2024.

Valerie Redman of Payneville is the daughter of Emily Redman and Alan Redman. A first-generation college student, she is a psychology major with a minor in clinical and community behavioral health. She earned the scholarship to study in South Korea in Summer 2024.

Priscilla Riggs of Elizabethtown is the daughter of Hannah Jenkins. A first-generation college student, she is an English professional writing and strategic marketing double major with a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL). She earned the scholarship and an additional Critical Need Language Award to study in South Korea in Spring 2025.

Kimberly “Hope” Salyers of Liberty is the daughter of the late Debra Sue Salyers Salisbury. A first-generation college student, she is an elementary education major and earned the scholarship to complete her student teaching in Germany in Spring 2025.

Danielle Williams of Goodlettsville, Tennessee is the daughter of Sharlyn Williams and Daniel Williams. She is a psychological science major with a minor in neuroscience. She earned the scholarship to study in Tanzania in Winter 2025.

Athziry Zetina, who was born in Mexico, is the daughter of Pedro Zetina Amezcua and Verenice Bojórquez Burgos. She is a criminology and forensic psychology double major. She earned the scholarship to study in Thailand in Summer 2024.

All of the students recognized worked with Lindsey Houchin and Will Randolph in the Office of Scholar Development at WKU to prepare their Gilman applications and with advisors in the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning to find the best study abroad program to fit their goals. 

The next Gilman Scholarship application cycle opens in mid-August 2024 and closes on October 18, 2024. Students interested in studying or interning abroad during these terms may apply:

• Winter 2024/2025
• Spring 2025
• Summer 2025
• Fall 2025

Interested students are encouraged to connect with the Office of Scholar Development at WKU and the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning throughout the winter and early spring semester.

About The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship: The Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Gilman Scholarship program funds internships or study abroad programs for undergraduate Pell Grant recipients. Since 2001, the Gilman Scholarship has enabled more than 41,000 Americans to study in countries around the world, representing diverse backgrounds including ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, and first-generation college students.

About the Office of Scholar Development (OSD): OSD mentors students applying for national scholarships to fund “academic extras” such as study abroad, research, professional experience, and more. From first drafts to final submissions with multiple revisions in between, OSD helps students make more possible. By conceptualizing and revising the stories they tell in application essays, students better understand their strengths, interests, and purpose—and explore multiple possible pathways to that work.

About WKU Global: WKU Global serves the WKU community by engaging students, faculty and staff in diverse, educational and cultural experiences through faculty-led, exchange, consortia and other study abroad opportunities.

Contact: Lindsey Houchin at lindsey.houchin@wku.edu or Will Randolph at will.randolph@wku.edu