(First row from left: Jada Barnett, Emma Bell, Ralphy Gardner, Summer Gary, Calen Gill. Second row from left: Michaela Goodrum, Alyssa Gordon, Morgan Hershey, Annalee Hubbs, Natalie Keyes. Third row from left: Anna Kimmell, Gabrielle Krumpelman, Felicia McCroskey, Adam Miles, Daniel Nausa.  Fourth row from left: Mary Osborne, Mia Pardieu, Fallon Russell, Timious Scott, Catherine Sheffield. Fifth row from left: Lindy Sipes, Madison Thompson, Chase Waters, Alexis Watkins, Avery Wilmurth. Two additional recipients are not pictured.)

27 WKU students were recognized by the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad in the March 2020 application cycle. 26 WKU students—more than any other university in Kentucky—were offered scholarships totaling $95,000, and an additional student was designated an alternate. They were selected from nearly 7,000 applications for this cycle.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the operations of the scholarship program and the study abroad programs it funds. Recipients whose study abroad plans were interrupted by travel restrictions are able to defer awards to programs starting between January 1 and September 30, 2021 or apply funding to virtual international opportunities that are credit-bearing. 

The following students, in addition to two students who did not wish to be recognized, were awarded funding: 

Jada Barnett of Bowling Green is a geography and environmental studies major with a concentration in environment and sustainability. After graduating, she will work toward sustainable urban development and city planning in Kentucky. She planned to study in Ireland in summer 2020 prior to COVID-19 disruptions.

Emma Bell of Scottsville is an agriculture major with an animal science concentration. Prior to COVID-19 disruptions, she planned to study in Ireland in summer 2020. After graduating, she hopes to attend veterinary school to become a small ruminant veterinarian.

Ralphy Gardner of Todd County is the son of Michael and Kumiko Gardner. He will study at the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom in spring 2021. With majors in criminology and forensic psychology with a minor in Arabic, he is pursuing a federal law enforcement career with the FBI or another agency.

Summer Gary of Louisville is the daughter of Tina V. Gary. She is an anthropology major with concentration in biological anthropology and minors in global health service and creative writing interested in sexual health education. Prior to COVID-19, she planned to study in the United Kingdom in summer 2020. 

Calen Gill of Indianapolis is the son of Christopher Gill and Jeneen Gates. He is a broadcasting major with a minor in entrepreneurship. Prior to COVID-19 disruptions, Calen planned to complete the Imagewest International Internship in Scotland before graduating in December. He will pursue a career with a media company like Complex News.

Michaela Goodrum of Franklin is the daughter of Chris and Melinda Morgan and wife of Ben Goodrum. She is an elementary education major and was awarded the scholarship for International Student Teaching in the United Kingdom in fall 2020 before pursuing a career in education. 

Alyssa Gordon of Bowling Green is the daughter of Tammy and Heather Ryan and David Gordon. In spring 2021, Alyssa, a paralegal studies and communication studies major, will study in the United Kingdom, where she hopes to pursue a future career in family law after graduation.

Morgan J. Hershey of Nashville, Tennessee is a political science and communication studies graduate, is now pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at WKU. Prior to COVID-19 disruptions, she planned to study in the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, and Hungary in summer 2020.

Annalee Hubbs of Louisville is the daughter of Sharon O’Reilly and Scot Hubbs. A journalism major with minors in fashion merchandising and digital advertising, she planned to study in Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland in summer 2020 prior to COVID-19 disruptions. She is pursuing a career in journalism. 

Natalie Keyes of Bowling Green is the daughter of Lisa Salmon and Jeffrey Keyes. She is a physical education and teacher education major with minors in health education, athletic coaching, and teaching English as a second language. Prior to COVID-19 disruptions, she planned to study in Mexico in summer 2020.

Anna Kimmell of Owensboro was awarded the Gilman Scholarship for study abroad at Harlaxton College in spring 2021. A nursing major, she is pursuing a career in healthcare, with study abroad laying the foundation for cross-cultural empathy with patients.

Gabrielle Krumpelman of Covington is the daughter of Ann and Kurt Krumpelman. She is a broadcasting major with concentration in news and sports reporting and a Spanish major. Prior to COVID-19 disruptions, she planned to study in Spain in fall 2020.

Felicia McCroskey of Frankfort is the daughter of Lynne McCroskey. Prior to COVID-19 disruptions, she planned to study at Harlaxton College in the United Kingdom in fall 2020. Majoring in English and psychology with a minor in sales, she is pursuing a career in consumer psychology. 

Adam Miles of Valders, Wisconsin is a biology and geographic information systems major. He was awarded the scholarship for study abroad and undergraduate research in South Africa. After graduating, he will pursue a master’s degree in wildlife biology and a career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Daniel Nausa of Bogota, Colombia completed a visual arts major with concentration in graphic design and a minor in studio art. Prior to COVID-19 disruptions, he planned to complete the Imagewest International Internship in Scotland. 

Mary Osborne of Elizabethtown is the daughter of Doug Osborne. With majors in science and math education and biology, she plans to teach high school biology. Before graduating in May, she will complete International Student Teaching in Italy in spring 2021.  

Mia Pardieu of Bardstown is the daughter of Buzzy and Margaret Pardieu. A global supply chain and Chinese major with a minor in journalism writing, she will pursue graduate school and a career in international business. She will study in South Korea in winter 2021. 

Fallon Russell of Franklin is the daughter of Missy West and Jacob Russell. With majors in English and teaching English as a second language, Fallon is pursuing a career teaching English abroad. Prior to COVID-19 disruptions, she planned to study in the United Kingdom in summer 2020. 

Timious Scott of Louisville is the son of Timious Scott, Sr. and Latosha Effinger. He is a sport management major who will graduate in December. Prior to COVID-19 disruptions, Timious planned to study in Spain in summer 2020. 

Lindy Sipes of Hickman is the daughter of Kelly and Jason Sipes. Before COVID-19 disruptions, she planned to complete intensive Arabic language study in Jordan in summer 2020. After completing her degree in Arabic, she hopes to live abroad and teach ESL while pursuing a master’s degree in linguistics.

Madison Thompson of Horse Cave is the daughter of Katrina Meredith Thompson and Troy Thompson. Prior to COVID-19 disruptions, she planned to study in Italy in summer 2020. After completing her degree in interior design and fashion merchandising, she plans to work in the fashion industry. 

Chase Waters of Scottsville is the son of Don and Amy Waters. With majors in broadcasting with a concentration and user experience, he is pursuing a career in video editing and production. Before COVID-19 disruptions, he planned to complete the Imagewest International Internship in Scotland. 

Alexis Watkins of Auburn is the daughter of Chad Watkins and Tonya Yates. Before COVID-19 disruptions, she planned to study in Ireland in summer 2020. After completing her degree in nursing, she will pursue a career in women’s health and hopes to become a Certified Nurse Midwife. 

Avery Wilmurth of Murray is the daughter of Molly Myers and Brian Wilmurth. Before COVID-19 disruptions, she planned to study in Spain in summer 2020. Majoring in elementary education with a minor in Spanish, she hopes to teach in an area where she can use her Spanish language skills to better communicate with students and their parents.

The following student was designated an alternate and may receive the scholarship if additional funding becomes available: 

Catherine Sheffield of Clarksville, TN is the daughter of Phyllis Sheffield. An aspiring writer, she studies creative writing and teaching English as a second language and hopes to teach English abroad. Prior to COVID-19 disruptions, she planned to study in Greece in summer 2020.

All of the students recognized in this application cycle worked with Lindsey Houchin, coordinator of international opportunities in the Office of Scholar Development at WKU, to prepare their applications and with advisors in the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning to find the best study abroad program to fit their goals.

Students interested in studying abroad in 2021 are encouraged to work with the Office of Scholar Development at WKU and the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning before the upcoming Gilman Scholarship deadline on October 6, 2020.

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 31,000 Americans to study in 151 countries, 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 the Office of Study Abroad and Global Learning (SAGL): SAGL 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.