Parker Stallings, a first-year student in Professional Legal Studies and English, has been selected for the highly competitive Fulbright US-UK Summer Institutes. Parker will study in a fully-funded three-week program on Arts, Activism and Social Justice at the University of Bristol in England, where he will learn how literature, music, visual arts, poetry and storytelling, dance, philosophy, and critical social theories have shaped movements for social justice across the globe, with particular attention given to racial justice and the legacies of slavery.  

Alejandro Ramirez, a first-year student in Psychological Science, was a finalist for the Summer Institute on Identity and Nationhood Through the Lens of Wales at Aberystwyth University. 

Each year, the US-UK Fulbright Commission supports up to 60 first- and second-year undergraduates from across the United States to undertake a demanding academic and cultural summer program at leading institutions in the UK. Fulbright Summer Institutes cover participants’ major costs and provide them with a distinctive support and cultural education program including comprehensive pre-departure guidance, enrichment opportunities in country, and an opportunity to be part of the Fulbright alumni network. 

Parker, the son of Stephanie and Andrew Stallings of Morgantown, says his dream job is Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, although he’ll settle for President of the United States. His more “grounded” plans, he says, are to get into a top-14 law school and pursue a federal clerkship before moving into politics and finding ways to influence public policy. As a student at Butler County High School, Parker worked to create a safe space for his LGBTQ+ peers. Last fall, he was selected to represent WKU at the Student Conference on U.S. Affairs at the U.S Military Academy at West Point and served as a poll worker in the November elections. Recently, he was elected the Chair of the Butler County Democratic Party, so it appears he’s on his way. 

Crystal Bohlander was Parker’s professor in “Citizen and Self,” the core course for first-year Mahurin Honors College students in which students consider the roles of the individual in a complex society and democratic environment. “I have worked with many intelligent, industrious youth over my career,” said Professor Bohlander, “and Parker stands out for the pace at which he has flourished, and the eagerness he has expressed to leverage his growth for the greater good of his home community.” 

“The US-UK Fulbright Summer Institutes program is one of the most competitive undergraduate scholarships out there, but our students have consistently had a good showing. Parker is the twelfth WKU student selected in as many years. In any case, as long as a student is eligible, they should apply! The application process itself is often just as valuable as the award itself,” said Melinda Grimsley, who advises WKU students on the Fulbright UK Summer Institutes application.

Parker echoed this observation: “The process of applying for Fulbright UKSI really helped me determine what my goals are and distill them into words. It has helped me set a path forward so that I know exactly where I plan to go.” 

The US-UK Fulbright Commission selects participants through a rigorous application and interview process. In making these awards, the Commission looks not only for academic excellence but a focused application, a range of extracurricular and community activities, demonstrated ambassadorial skills, and a plan to give back to the recipient’s home country upon returning. 

Maria Balinska, Executive Director of the US-UK Fulbright Commission, said, “Cultural exchange is a truly transformative experience, and I am excited to see this year’s UK Summer Institutes participants embark on this journey of immersing themselves in British academia and culture. I’m confident this experience will leave a lasting impression on both the participants and on those they meet and connect with during their time here.” 

About the US-UK Fulbright Commission: The US-UK Fulbright Commission works to advance knowledge, promote civic engagement and develop compassionate leaders through education exchange between the peoples of the US and the UK. It is the only academic awards programme that operates on both sides of the Atlantic, providing grants for postgraduate study, research and teaching. Since its inception in 1948, tens of thousands of British and American citizens have participated in our programmes, enriching their educations, developing relationships, advancing their careers and making a difference in their communities, at home and abroad. The Fulbright Program of awards is now considered amongst the most prestigious scholarship awards globally, with 60 Nobel Laureates and 39 Heads of State/Government within its 390,000 global alumni. 

About the Office of Scholar Development: The Office of Scholar Development 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 and interviews, students better understand their strengths, interests, and purpose—and explore multiple possible pathways to that work.