WKU News

(First row from left: Kindle Anderson, Gianna Cecil, Audrey Clark, Noelle Fleek, Jack Galloway. Second row from left: Briah Floyd, TeTe Hayden, Jackson Hite, Eliza Marsh, Felicia McCroskey. Third row from left: Ira Meadows, Diksha Mishra, Kyah Neal, Khawl Nuam, Alli Sadler. Fifth row from left: Morgan Todd, Jazemen Xaysana, Kim Zetina, Vivian Zheng, E Myo Zin.) 

20 WKU students earned the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad in the March 2022 application cycle, more than any other Kentucky institution. This reflects an 80% selection rate for WKU applicants who worked with the Office of Scholar Development to prepare applications. 

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 20 recipients in this application cycle earned scholarships totaling $88,500 with an average award amount of $4,425. 

The following students were awarded funding:

Kindle Anderson of Gallatin, Tennessee is the daughter of Matthew and Christi Anderson. With majors in history and Asian religions and cultures, plus a minor in religious studies, she hopes to teach English in Japan and become a professor. She earned the scholarship to study in Japan in Fall 2022.

Gianna Cecil of Louisville is the daughter of Nancy and Rick Cecil. With majors in journalism and geography with a concentration in environment and sustainability and a minor in Spanish, she hopes to tell stories of people from Spanish-speaking countries in support of sustainability efforts around the world. She earned the scholarship to study in Spain in Summer 2022. 

Audrey Clark of Hendersonville, Tennessee is the daughter of Patrick and Stacie Clark. An exercise science major, she plans to attend physical therapy school to become a pediatric physical therapist. She earned the scholarship to study and complete and internship in Australia in Spring 2023. 

Noelle Fleek of Florence is a music and Spanish double-major with a concentration in teacher education. She earned the scholarship to study in Spain in Summer 2022 and hopes to pursue a career as a high school Spanish teacher. 

Briah Floyd of Louisville is an interior design and fashion merchandising major. She is pursuing a career in fashion coordinating, producing fashion shows and other promotional vehicles for fashion companies and designers. She earned the scholarship to study in Spain in Summer 2022. 

Jack Galloway of Louisville is the son of Dennie and Rebecca Galloway. A marketing major with a concentration in strategic marketing and an interest in environmentalism, he plans to attend graduate school for environmental analytics. He earned the scholarship to study in Costa Rica in Spring 2023. 

TeTe Hayden of Lebanon is the daughter of Stacey Wright. An elementary education major, she is pursuing a career as a kindergarten teacher and plans to attend graduate school at WKU. She earned the scholarship to study in Ireland in Spring 2023. 

Jackson Hite of Scottsville is the son of Louella and Jody Hite. With majors in advertising and public relations and a minor in arts administration, he hopes to merge his passion for art and music with his love for marketing and branding through performing arts management. He earned the scholarship to study in Italy in Summer 2023. 

Eliza Marsh of Harrodsburg is the daughter of Jennifer Marsh, Mark Curtis, and the late David Marsh. With majors in communication studies and public relations, she hopes to work in corporate human resources. She earned the scholarship to study in Italy in Spring 2023. 

Felicia McCroskey of Frankfort is the daughter of Lynne McCroskey. Majoring in English and psychology with a minor in sales, she is pursuing a career in consumer psychology. She earned the scholarship to study in the United Kingdom in Summer 2022. 

Ira Meadows of Glasgow is the daughter of Connie Jessup and Richard Meadows. An international business and international affairs major with a minor in Chinese, she is pursuing a career in international trade law. She earned the scholarship and an additional Critical Need Language Award to study in Taiwan in Academic Year 2022-2023. 

Diksha Mishra of Bowling Green is the daughter of Raju and Archana Mishra.  With a major in biology and a minor in health care administration, she will pursue medical school through a career in healthcare. She earned the scholarship to study in South Korea in Spring 2023. 

Kyah Neal of Elizabethtown is the daughter of Diana Neal. A student in the learning and behavior disorders and elementary education dual certification program, she is pursuing a career teaching individuals with moderate to severe disabilities. She earned the scholarship to study in Germany in Spring 2023. 

Khawl Nuam of Bowling Green is the daughter of Kham Kap Thang and Lian Hau Cing. A public health major, she will pursue a master’s degree in public health at WKU beginning in Fall 2022. She earned the scholarship to study in South Korea in Summer 2022. 

Alli Sadler of Russellville is the daughter of Shawn Sadler and Kristie Goodnight. An English major with a concentration in professional writing and a minor in teaching English as a second language, she plans to teach abroad. She earned the scholarship to study in South Korea in Spring 2023. 

Morgan Todd of Russellville is the daughter of Forrest and Angela Todd. After using the scholarship and an additional Critical Need Language Award to study Arabic in Jordan in Fall 2022, she will graduate with degrees in psychology and Arabic with a minor in criminology. She will pursue a career in federal service. 

Jazemen Xaysana of Bowling Green is an interior design and fashion merchandising major. With interest in a career in interior design, she earned the scholarship to study in Italy in Fall 2022.

Kimberly Zetina of Elizabethtown is an international business major with a concentration in international management. After graduation, she will pursue a career in business featuring international travel. She earned the scholarship to study in South Korea in Winter 2023. 

Vivian Zheng of Albany is the daughter of Wen Juan Chen. Having completed coursework for her majors in Asian religions and cultures, international business, and Chinese, she will use the scholarship and additional Critical Need Language Award to complete her Chinese Flagship Program Capstone Year in Taiwan in Academic Year 2022-2023. 

E Myo Zin of Bowling Green is a biology major with a minor in chemistry. After graduating from WKU, she will pursue medical school toward a career in healthcare. She earned the scholarship to study in Kenya in Summer 2022. 

All of the students recognized worked with Lindsey Houchin 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 closes on Tuesday, October 6, 2022. Students interested in studying or interning abroad during these terms may apply: 

• Winter 2022/2023

• Spring 2023

• Summer 2023

• Fall 2023

• Academic Year 2023-2024

Interested students are encouraged to work with the Office of Scholar Development at WKU and the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning in early September 2022.

About the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship: 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 33,000 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): The Office of Scholar Development is committed to helping WKU students in all majors and degree programs develop the vision, experience and skills to be independent, engaged scholars. OSD welcomes the opportunity to work with students interested in nationally competitive scholarships.

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, lindsey.houchin@wku.edu