WKU News

31 WKU students earned the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad in the October 2022 application cycle, more than in any other cycle and more than all of Kentucky's other public institutions combined.  

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 31 recipients in this application cycle earned scholarships totaling $128,000 with an average award amount of $4,129.  

A record-setting 58 WKU students applied in this cycle, a 164% increase since the previous cycle in March 2022. Of those who worked with the Office of Scholar Development to prepare their applications, 86% were recognized as recipients or alternates. 

31 students were awarded funding, including the following: 

Emma Bell of Scottsville is a biology major with a minor in agriculture. She earned the scholarship to study in South Africa in Summer 2023. After graduating, she will pursue a career as a wildlife biologist. 

Madi Brown of Bardstown is the daughter of David and Rachel Brown. She is ahotel, restaurant, and tourism management major, with minors in meeting and convention planning pluslegal studies. She plans to work in the travel industry before becoming a hospitality management professor. Madi earned the scholarship to study in France and Belgium in Summer 2023. 

Britney Carmack of Crossville, Tennessee is the daughter of Jennifer and Billie Carmack. With a theatre major and a minor in musical theatre, she earned the scholarship to study in South Korea in Fall 2023. After graduating, she hopes to teach American theatre abroad for cultural exchange.  

Emily Chambers of Leitchfield is a music major with a concentration in music education. She earned the scholarship to complete International Student Teaching in Spainin late Spring 2023. Following graduation, she will pursue a career as an elementary school music teacher. 

Erica Clardy of Bowling Green is the daughter of Gary and Langdon Odom. A nontraditional student majoring in nursing, she earned the scholarship to study in Ireland and the United Kingdom in Summer 2023.  

Jayda Dowell of Elizabethtown is an agriculture major with concentrations in animal and horse science. After graduation, she will pursue a career in veterinary science. She earned the scholarship to study in Italy in Summer 2023. 

Gracie Goode of Harrodsburg is the daughter of Beth Miller and Shawn Goode. With a major in middle school education, she earned the scholarship to complete International Student Teaching in Spain in late Spring 2023. After graduating, she is pursuing a career as a middle grades language arts and social studies teacher. 

April LeAnn Gregory of Central City is a film production major. She earned the scholarship to study in Spain in Summer 2023. 

Taryn Guyer of Bowling Green is the daughter of Clara Guyer. With majors in economics and Chinese and a minor in music, she earned the scholarship to study in Taiwan in Summer 2023. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a career in economic research. 

JC Guzmán-Perkins of Glasgow is the son of Amanda Perkins. A religious studies and Chinese double major with a minor in teaching English as a second language, he plans to teach English in either Taiwan or South Korea. He earned the scholarship to study in Taiwan in Summer 2023. 

Miranda Hardin of Bardstown is the daughter of Benjamin and Theresa Hardin. Abiology major and neuroscience minor, she earned the scholarship to study in Tanzania in Summer 2023. With an interest in neuroscience, she will pursue a career in medicine.  

Carelynn Hartmann of Dry Ridge is the biological daughter of Christina and William Fields and the adoptive daughter of Ellen and Ronald Hartmann.A civil engineering major with an interest in structural engineering, she will study in the Netherlands in Summer 2023. 

Tramaine Hawkins of Hopkinsville is the son of Terra and Jermaine Hawkins. With a major in healthcare administration, minor in business administration, and certificates in long-term care administration and applied data analytics,he earned the scholarship to study in Tanzania in Summer 2023. After graduating, he hopes to improve healthcare inequalities through a master’s degree in public health. 

Laurel Johnston of Murray is the daughter of Jennifer Johnston and the late Tim Johnston. A marketing major with a minor in psychological science and a certificate in applied data analytics, Laurel is pursuing a research-focused career in marketing and communications. She earned the scholarship to study in Spring 2023 in the United Kingdom. 

Jaxom Kitchens is an electrical engineering major. He earned the scholarship to study in Japan in Summer 2023, where he will take Japanese language and intercultural leadership courses. After graduating, he will pursue a career in electrical engineering. 

Emileigh Lindsey of Hartford is an elementary education major. She earned the scholarship for international student teaching in Ireland in late Spring 2023. 

Olivia Marshall of Nashville is the daughter of Able Marshall and Courtney Bolton. With a major in English and a minor in teaching English as a second language, she earned the scholarship to study in SouthKorea in Summer 2023. After graduating, she hopes to teach English abroad. 

Ryan Messenger of Murray is an exercise science and hospitality management and dietetics double major with a concentration in nutrition and dietetics. He will complete a combined dietetics internship and master’s degree in exercise physiologytoward a career as a sports dietitian. He earned the scholarship to study in Australia in Summer 2023. 

Robert Miller of Bruceton, Tennessee is a mechanical engineering major.He earned the scholarship to study in Germany and France in Winter 2023. After graduating, he will pursue a career in the automotive industry. 

Wes Mills of Somerset is an international business major with minors in history and Russian/Eastern European studies.He earned the scholarship to study in Austria in Spring 2023. 

KiKi Paw, who was born in Thailand,is the daughter of Aung Thein and Mu Loe. A nursing major, she earned the scholarship to study in Ireland in Summer 2023. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a career as a travel nurse. 

Jessica Perez of Nicholasville is the daughter of Elva Rodriguez and Jose Perez. A music major with a concentration in music education, she is working toward a career as an elementary school music teacher. She earned the scholarship to complete International Student Teaching in Spainin late Spring 2023. 

Emily Pike of Elizabethtown is the daughter of Steve and Rose Pike. A child and family services major with a minor in organizational leadership, she earned the scholarship to study in Costa Rica in Summer 2023. After graduating, she hopes to teach family and consumer sciences. 

Patrice Powell of Louisville is a hospitality management and dietetics major. After graduation, she intends to pursue a master’s degree and obtain her license to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. She earned the scholarship to study in Germany and France in Winter 2023.  

Arkeavious Prater of Somerset is the son of Britani Shoemaker. A double major in interior design and fashion merchandising and dance, he earned the scholarship to study in Indonesia in Summer 2023. After graduating, he hopes to start a sustainable fashion company in southern France. 

Aimee Scott of Glasgow is the daughter of Susan and Scotty Scott. She is an English and psychology double major and is pursuing PhD programs in clinical psychology toward a career as a clinician or professor. She earned the scholarship to study in Ireland and the United Kingdom in Winter 2023. 

Alexis Smith of Russell Springs is the daughter of Lydia and Tracy Smith. With majors in biochemistry and Spanish, she earned the scholarship to study in Spain in Winter 2023. After graduating, she hopes to become a physician providing better access to quality healthcare in underserved rural areas. 

Lariah Stockton of Bowling Green is the daughter of Lillie Mason and Mandel Stockton. She is studying Spanish, education, and American Sign Language toward a career advocating for language learning. She earned the scholarship to study in Costa Rica in Summer 2023. 

Jackie Vrocher of Edmonton is the daughter of Jack and Debbie Vrocher. With a major in human resource management and a minor in American Sign Language, she earned the scholarship to study in Australia in Spring 2023. After graduating, she will pursue a career in business management. 

Alexandra Waterman of Lockport, Illinois is the daughter of Pamela Waterman. A special education major, she is working toward a career as a special education teacher. She earned the scholarship to study in Germany in Spring 2023. 

Promise Willhite of Russellville is the daughter of Martina Willhite. With double majors in biology and chemistry, she earned the scholarship to study in South Africa in Summer 2023. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a career in wildlife conservation. 

An additional 18 students were named alternates, including the following: 

Breyanne Billy of Memphis is a pre-veterinary agriculture major with a concentration in animal science. She is the daughter of Shonetel Joseph and Elvin Billy. 

Chanell Ellis of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee is a criminology and psychology major with a concentration in forensic psychology. She is the daughter of Kerri and Travis Ellis. 

Beth Galloway is a social work major. 

Emily Gillis of Louisville is a Chinese and international affairs major with a minor in military science.  

Tanay Harris of Louisville is a pre-physical therapy exercise science major. She is the daughter of Shonetta Burks. 

Kiana Higgins of Versailles is a criminology major with a minor in psychology. She is the daughter of LaToyia Higgins. 

Gwendolyn Lamb of Cornersville, Tennessee is an anthropology, Chinese, and Asian religions and cultures major. She is the daughter of Jennifer Bolen.

Hannah Kay Shapiro is a biology and health informatics major with minors in neuroscience and nonprofit administration. 

Naiya Sims of Elizabethtown is a pre-medicine biology and chemistry major with a minor in business administration. She is the daughter of Nicole and Jason Sims. 

Mikel Snow of Lexington is a social work major. She is the daughter of Charlene Jones.  

Dasean Tyus of Louisville is a management major with a concentration in human resource and personnel management and a minor in sociology. He is the son of Brittney Williams. 

Carrie Updegraff of Bowling Green is an engineering major.  

Avery L. Wells of Louisville is a pre-law political science major with a minor in African-American studies. He is the son of Antissa and Andre Wells. 

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. 

Contact: Lindsey Houchin, lindsey.houchin@wku.edu