(First row from left: Bethel Aklilu, Caitlin Brock, Megan Cole, Gabe Feinn. Second row from left: Tino Garcia, Jazzlin Hamilton, Courtney Lyons. Third row from left: Oo Meh, Paige Peters, Fallon Russell, Zan Win. Not pictured: Sofia Kamali.)

Congratulations to English students Bethel Aklilu, Gabe Feinn, and Paige Peters on receiving the 2019 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, and to Fallon Russell for being designated as an alternate, who will receive the scholarship if funding becomes available. These students will be studying abroad in various places this coming year, and we look forward to seeing what they accomplish with skills acquired through being an English major or minor. Read the full story about Gilman Scholarship recipients below!

12 WKU students were recognized by the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad in 2019.

8 WKU students, more than any other public university in Kentucky, were offered scholarships totaling $25,000, and an additional 4 were designated alternates. They were selected from nearly 5,000 applications for this cycle.

The following students were awarded scholarship funding:

Bethel Aklilu of Mount Juliet is the daughter of Adey Wassie and Amha Aklilu. Through Semester at Sea, she will study in 11 countries and 3 continents in spring 2020. After completing her English degree, she will pursue graduate studies toward an international career in humanitarian aid. 

Megan Cole of Sharon Grove is the daughter of Vicki Bishop and Andy Cole. With interests in the Korean language and pop culture, she will study in South Korea in winter 2020. In the future she hopes to use degrees in agriculture and nonprofit administration to serve as a cooperative extension agent with 4-H.

Gabe Feinn of Louisville is the son of Vicki and Benjamin Feinn.  A student in the Chinese Flagship Program, he will complete intensive language study through the Princeton in Beijing program in China in summer 2020. With majors in Chinese and teaching English as a second language, he is pursuing a career teaching English in Taiwan. 

Jazzlin Hamilton of Louisville is the daughter of Mauriece Hamilton and Romy Hill. She will study in Costa Rica in winter 2020. After completing degrees in broadcasting and musical theatre, she will pursue a broadcasting career in a major city where she will continue her dream of singing, dancing, and acting. She is an advocate for children with learning disabilities and traumatic brain injuries like herself.

Sofia Kamali of Union City, California will study in the United Arab Emirates in spring 2020. She is pursuing a career in the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service after completing her degree in international affairs with a minor in political science. 

Oo Meh of Bowling Green is the daughter of Bu Reh and Klaw Meh. A nursing major, she plans to serve others as a traveling nurse and hopes to form a non-profit to aid others doing the same in Southeast Asia, career goals inspired by growing up in Karenni Refugee Camp #1 in Western Thailand.

Paige Peters of McKee will study at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico and volunteer in local elementary schools in spring 2020. After completing degrees in Spanish, economics, and teaching English as a second language, she will pursue a career teaching English in a Latin American country.

Zan Win of Bowling Green is pursuing degrees in visual arts and graphic design. She will study in Tokyo, Japan in summer 2020. With particular interest in the graphic design of branding, she will study Japanese and art during her study abroad program.

The following students were designated alternates who may receive the scholarship if additional funding becomes available:

Caitlin Brock of Louisville is the daughter of Joanne Brock. She will complete the WKU International Student Teaching Program in Ireland in spring 2020, an experience she hopes to use in creating a classroom environment that supports and inspires all students, particularly those who need additional assistance in learning.

Tino Garcia of Round Lake, Illinois is the son of Alicia and Claudio Garcia. He will study in Spain in spring 2020. Having recently declared a major in broadcasting, he hopes to use his bilingual skills to impact the Hispanic community and serve individuals like himself, whose first language is Spanish, while working for Univision.

Courtney Lyons of Glasgow is the daughter of Kevin Lyons and Lori Shields. An elementary education major, she is pursuing the International Student Teaching program, in which education majors complete a portion of their required student teaching abroad, in spring 2020.

Fallon Russell of Franklin is the daughter of Missy West and Jacob Russell. She will study abroad in England in summer 2020. With majors in English and teaching English as a second language, Fallon hopes to teach English abroad after graduating in fall 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 summer 2020, fall 2020, winter 2021, and spring 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 March 3.

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: 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.