WKU News

Priscilla Riggs, a first-generation college student in English and Marketing, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Program English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to South Korea. Riggs will serve as a cultural ambassador and English teacher during 2027-2028 academic year.

Riggs is the daughter of Hannah Jenkins of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. After completing her Fulbright year in South Korea, Riggs intends to continue teach ESL abroad while gaining additional international experience. Long term, she plans to return to the U.S. and transition into bilingual public relations or multicultural marketing, supporting international business partnerships.

Riggs is a member of the Mahurin Honors College at WKU, and points to her experiences beyond the classroom as particularly beneficial in her educational journey towards Fulbright, including substitute teaching for Hardin County Schools, working as a Writing Center tutor on campus, and interning with Kentucky Kids on the Block.

“Being selected for a Fulbright award means absolutely everything to me. It feels like seeing years of hard work, persistence, and ambition come full circle,” said Riggs. “I am especially excited about the opportunity to fully step into the role of an educator in a Korean classroom and build meaningful relationships with my students and co-teachers … Having previously studied abroad in South Korea, I understand how powerful these day-to-day interactions can be, and I am eager to continue building those cross-cultural connections in a more immersive, long-term setting.”

Riggs has worked closely with the Office of Scholar Development (OSD) to pursue a wide variety of opportunities available during her time at WKU. She has applied and won a Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship, Freeman-Asia Award and a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship that first supported a summer program and then later a semester-long program in South Korea.

Most recently, Riggs has been selected for a Critical Language Scholarship and will spend the summer studying Korean at Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea.

Riggs said, “Each of these experiences has built upon the last. Being selected for a Fulbright award is the culmination of years of intentional effort, mentorship from OSD, and personal growth. It represents not only a long-term goal achieved, but also the continuation of a journey I began years ago.”

Riggs also acknowledged a strong network of support that helped her achieve these goals. “I am especially grateful to Anna Mayo from WKU’s Office of Scholar Development, whose hands-on guidance and encouragement were instrumental throughout every stage of the process. I also thank Dr. Mark McAndrews and Dr. Alex Poole for their thoughtful feedback as members of the campus Fulbright committee, and Dr. Trini Stickle, Dr. Daniel Keller, and Dr. Minwoo Lee for their support through letters of recommendation.”

Riggs joins a 75-year legacy of Hilltoppers who have participated in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government that is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.  

Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. Students and recent alumni interested in learning more can register their interest here and stay tuned to @wku_osd on Instagram for additional information from the Office of Scholar Development. The campus deadline for completed applications is September 1.

About the Fulbright Program: The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to forge lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, counter misunderstandings, and help people and nations work together toward common goals. Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has enabled more than 450,000 dedicated and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and find solutions to shared international concerns in more than 160 countries worldwide. 

About the Office of Scholar Development: OSD mentors students and alumni applying for nationally competitive scholarships for “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. 

Contact: Anna Mayo, anna.mayo@wku.edu