2014-2015 WKU Nationally Competitive Scholarship Winners
National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the Graduate Research Fellowship Program provides
an annual stipend and tuition support for up to three years of graduate study in the sciences and
social sciences.
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Clarice Esch (2014 Graduate in Agriculture, Honors College, Somerset)
Christy Saintsing (2013 Graduate in Electrical Engineering, Decatur, Georgia)
Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship
Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, the SMART Scholarship pays for tuition and
education-related fees and provides an annual stipend, paid summer internships, a health insurance
reimbursement allowance, and employment placement after graduation in a government lab.
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India Blasser (2015 Graduate of the Gatton Academy, Henderson) — Semifinalist
Brandon Bandy (Geology, Honors College, Portland, Tennessee) — Semifinalist
Harry S. Truman Scholarship
Open to juniors dedicated to a career in public service, the highly competitive Truman Scholarship
recognizes service and leadership and provides up to $30,000 in funding for graduate education.
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Megan Skaggs (English and International Affairs, Honors College, Brownsville) — Finalist
Paige Settles (Political Science and Communication Studies, Honors College, Floyds Knobs,
Indiana) — Finalist
Fulbright Grants
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program receives approximately 10,000 applications and awards
approximately 1800 grants to recent graduates and young professionals. Awardees either conduct
independent research, study, or arts projects or teach English and American culture in up to 140
countries around the world for up to a year. The program facilitates cultural exchange through
direct interaction between the grantee and his or her host community.
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Erin Asher (2015 Graduate in International Business and Economics, Honors College,
Louisville) — Research/Study Grant to the Netherlands
Sarah Fox (2015 Graduate in Music and History, Honors College, Russellville) —
Research/Study Grant to the United Kingdom
Hayley Hilbert (2015 Graduate in International Affairs, Honors College, Louisville) —
English Teaching Assistantship to Germany, Alternate
Lindsey Houchin (2011 Graduate in English & Allied Language Arts, current Graduate
Student in English, Bowling Green) — English Teaching Assistantship to Croatia
Kayla Sweeney (2015 Graduate in English for Secondary Teachers, Honors College,
Somerset) — English Teaching Assistantship to Malaysia
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Rebecca Thieman (2014 Graduate in Psychology and English, Honors College, Louisville) —
English Teaching Assistantship to Malta
Ryan Vennell (2014 Graduate in Broadcasting, Honors College, Chatham, Illinois) —
Research/Study Grant to the United Kingdom, Alternate
Boren Awards for International Study
Funded by the Department of Defense National Security Education Program, Boren Scholarships
provide up to $20,000 for up to a year of study abroad focusing on building linguistic and cultural
proficiency in countries critical to American national security.
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Tyler Prochazka (International Affairs and Asian Religions & Cultures, Chinese Language
Flagship, Honors College, Newton, Kansas)
Zachary Redmond (International Affairs and Arabic, Owensboro)
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship seeks to recognize excellence in the sciences and to
encourage talented students to pursue research careers. The award provides up to $7,500 per year
for educational expenses to sophomores and juniors.
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Andrew Brown (2015 Graduate of the Gatton Academy, Central City)
Dimitri Leggas (2015 Graduate of the Gatton Academy, Lexington)
Audrey Brown (Biology, Chemistry, Honors College, Bowling Green) — Honorable Mention
Ben Guthrie (2015 Graduate of the Gatton Academy, Bowling Green) — Honorable Mention
Critical Language Scholarship
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Critical Language Scholarship provides 7-10 weeks
of intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences abroad. The
award covers all costs for travel, study and living expenses during the program.
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Jody Dahmer (Political Science and International Business, Chinese Language Flagship,
Honors College, Louisville) — Chinese
Mackenzie Donoghue (Chinese and Asian Religions & Cultures, Chinese Language Flagship,
Honors College, Seoul, South Korea) — Chinese
Alexandra Hezik (Self-designed Sustainable Agriculture, Chinese Language Flagship,
Honors College, Campbellsville) — Chinese
Kelly Tursic (International Affairs and Asian Religions & Cultures, Chinese Language
Flagship, Honors College, Union) — Chinese
National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
The State Department’s NSLI-Y provides merit-based scholarships to U.S. high school students
interested in learning less-commonly studied foreign languages. This scholarship covers all
program costs for six weeks of intensive study abroad, including travel to the applicant’s
destination, tuition, housing, and activities.
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Meredith Bickett (2015 Graduate of the Gatton Academy, Owensboro) — Arabic
India Blasser (2015 Graduate of the Gatton Academy, Henderson) — Russian
Sam Booth (2015 Graduate of the Gatton Academy, Owensboro) — Korean
Rena Ryumae (2015 Graduate of the Gatton Academy, Union) — Korean
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants of up to $5,000 for U.S.
citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad.
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Demarcus Brooks (Arabic and International Affairs, Louisville) – Jordan, Summer 2015
Linda Cruz (Agriculture, Honors College, Carrollton) – Taiwan, Summer 2015
Bridgette Davis (Middle Grades Mathematics and Science & Math Education, Monticello) –
Ecuador, Spring 2015
Amy Givens (Public Health and Nursing, Bowling Green) – India, Spring 2015
Colleen Goodson (Health Care Administration, Letcher) – Tanzania, Summer 2015
Chasity Hodge (Arabic and Nursing, Lebanon Junction) – Jordan, Summer 2015
Megan Lemily (Elementary Education, Bowling Green) – Spain, Spring 2015
Brianna Stewart (Arabic, Guston) – Morocco, Summer 2015
Jeremiah Stringer (Mathematics and Science & Math Education, Monticello) – Ecuador,
Spring 2015
Haley Taylor (Middle Grades Mathematics and Science and Math Education, Tompkinsville)
-- Italy, Fall 2015
Cache Tomlinson (Sport Management and International Business, Shelbyville) – Germany,
Fall 2015
Cody Tutt (Chemistry and Chinese, Bowling Green) – South Korea, Spring 2015
Abigail Vickers (Elementary Education, Honors College, Waynesburg) – Costa Rica,
Summer 2015
Amy Wolterman (Visual Arts, Lexington) – Germany, Summer 2015
Foundation for Global Scholars
Provides financial support to American undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to
engage in study abroad.
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Lillian Nellans (International Affairs, Honors College, Des Moines, Iowa) — Bosnia and
Herzegovina