Three WKU students were awarded Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) scholarships for study abroad in the Spring 2024 application cycle, tied for the most of any institution in the country and the only institution in Kentucky with FEA recipients. The recipients were offered scholarships for study abroad in Senegal, South Korea, and the United Kingdom for the Summer 2024 and Fall 2024 terms. All three recipients are first-generation college students.

The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) makes life-changing international education experiences accessible to all by supporting minority and first-generation college students underrepresented in U.S. study abroad. This application cycle, 87% of all awarded scholars identify as students of color, and 92% are first-generation college students. Applicants must demonstrate a strong academic purpose for study abroad and connect their chosen courses to their future professional goals.

The following WKU students were awarded funding:

Bobbi Coffee of Louisville is the child of Sharon and Frank Neville. They are an English major with a minor in creative writing. Bobbi is a recipient of the Tamara H. Bryant Memorial Scholarship and will complete a bachelor’s degree through study abroad in the United Kingdom in Fall 2024.

Joshalyn Hamilton of Tompkinsville is the daughter of Damarcus Hamilton and Tasha Blankenship. She is a business management major with a concentration in human resource management. Joshalyn is a recipient of the Gateway International Group Scholarship and will study in Senegal in Summer 2024.

Priscilla Riggs of Elizabethtown is the daughter of Hannah Jenkins. She is a double major in English and marketing with a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL). Priscilla is a recipient of the Gateway International Group Scholarship and will study in South Korean in Summer 2024.

All of the students recognized worked with Will Randolph, Specialist for Nationally Competitive Opportunities in the Office of Scholar Development at WKU, to prepare their applications. 

Students interested in studying abroad are encouraged to seek scholarship funding early, as students who plan one year in advance maximize their scholarship potential. To explore possibilities for study abroad, students are encouraged to work with WKU Global to find the best study abroad program to fit their goals and the WKU Office of Scholar Development to seek nationally competitive scholarships. Students studying abroad in Winter 2024/25 and Spring 2025 can apply for the next FEA cycle beginning in July 2024.

About the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA): FEA awards many different types of scholarships, including named scholarships that are funded by specific donors and designated scholarships that are destination- or demographic-specific. FEA’s mission is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population.

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: Will Randolph, will.randolph@wku.edu