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Seven WKU students and recent graduates have been recognized as Semi-Finalists in the 2025-26 Fulbright U.S. Student Program competition. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is one among a suite of exchange programs in partnership with more than 160 countries around the world supported primarily by an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It funds an academic year of research, study, or English teaching for approximately 2200 grantees annually in more than 140 countries worldwide.  

Over 11,000 graduating seniors and recent graduates nationwide submitted applications last fall that were evaluated by panels of American university faculty based on academic and professional achievement as well as record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields. Additional evaluation committees at American embassies and Fulbright Commissions worldwide will select Finalists throughout the spring and notify on a rolling basis. Once Finalists accept their awards, they are designated Fulbright Grantees or Fulbright Students. 

WKU’s Semi-Finalists for the 2024-25 award year are: 

Autumn Howard (‘24 English and Spanish), who applied for an English Teaching Assistant award to Spain. 

Nguyen Nguyen (‘24 Chinese), who applied for an English Teaching Assistant award to Taiwan. 

Htee Shee Paw (‘25 Corporate & Organizational Communication, Professional Legal Studies), who applied for an English Teaching Assistant award to Thailand. 

Parker Raybourne (‘22 Political Science, Public Relations, and Advertising), who applied for a Fulbright research award in Italy to study the efficacy of public-private partnerships to address rural “brain drain.” 

Manzar Rzayeva (‘22 Biology, ‘24 Master’s in Public Health), who applied for a Fulbright research award in Germany to study access to maternal healthcare services among migrants. 

Shwe Win (‘23 Public Health, ‘25 Master’s in Public Health), who applied for an English Teaching Assistant award to Thailand. 

Sydney Windhorst (‘25 International Affairs), who applied for an English Teaching Assistant award to Italy. 

Fulbright U.S. Student Program applicants develop their project ideas and application materials with Dr. Melinda Grimsley, WKU’s Fulbright Program Advisor, well in advance of the national deadline. The process itself, a period of exploration, drafting, and revision that can extend over several weeks or months, rewards all applicants as they gain experience conceptualizing and developing their intellectual interests and passion for cross-cultural connection into tangible opportunities. 

The next application cycle opens in April 2025 and WKU’s campus deadline for the 2024-25 award year is September 1, 2025. A virtual information session will be held in the spring semester; students and recent alumni interested in learning more can register their interest here and stay tuned to @wku_osd on Instagram for additional information from the Office of Scholar Development. 

About the Fulbright Program: The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to forge lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, counter misunderstandings, and help people and nations work together toward common goals. Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has enabled more than 390,000 dedicated and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and find solutions to shared international concerns. The Fulbright Program, which operates in more than 160 countries worldwide, is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. 

About the Office of Scholar Development: OSD mentors students applying for nationally competitive scholarships for “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 and interviews, students better understand their strengths, interests, and purpose—and explore multiple possible pathways to that work. 

Contact: Melinda Grimsley, melinda.grimsley@wku.edu