Eight WKU students and recent graduates have been recognized as Semi-Finalists in the 2023-24 Fulbright U.S. Student Program competition. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program funds an academic year of research, study, or English teaching for approximately 2200 grantees annually in more than 140 countries worldwide.  

Over 8000 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 2023-24 award year are: 

Hannah Banks (‘20 Anthropology), who applied for a Fulbright award to fund a master’s degree in global health, studying patient experiences of chronic illness at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. 

Morgan Basil (‘22 Spanish and Psychological Sciences), who applied for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Spain. 

Paige Figueroa(‘22 Economics and Spanish), who applied for a Fulbright award to fund a master’s degree in international development at IE University’s School of Global and Public Affairs in Madrid, Spain. 

Kerby Gilstrap (‘22 International Affairs and Arabic), who applied for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Algeria. 

Jackson Hite (‘23 Advertising and Public Relations), who applied for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in North Macedonia. 

Audrey Plescia (‘23 Performing Arts and Sociology), who applied for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Lithuania 

Parker Raybourne (‘22 Political Science and Advertising), who applied for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Indonesia. 

Jaclyn Schiess (‘22 Dance), who applied for a Fulbright award to fund a master’s degree in Dance Anthropology at the University of Roehampton in the United Kingdom. 

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 2023 and WKU’s campus deadline for the 2024-25award year is September 1, 2023. Students and recent alumni interested in learning more about Fulbright U.S. Student Program are invited to register for a virtual information session at 5pm central time on April 4 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: 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. 

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