|
WKU students and recent graduates earned recognition in the nation’s most prestigious scholarship competitions during the 2025–2026 academic year, producing results that have once again sent WKU to the top of state and national rankings in several competitions. A total of 153 Hilltoppers submitted 185 applications for nationally competitive scholarships, earning recognition 48 times and more than $700,000 in funding for study abroad, research, and graduate study.
Beyond the financial value and prestige attached to these awards, participating in national scholarship competitions incorporate high-impact practices that enhance a student’s overall educational experience. Developing application materials is a writing-intensive process, with students receiving regular and detailed feedback from three full-time professional advisors in the Office of Scholar Development. While this process can span weeks during a single application cycle, many students return for additional opportunities, refining their skills over months or years to pursue research, study abroad, and other academic and professional goals.
(More: List of 2025-26 Nationally Competitive Scholarship Winners)
The 2025–2026 academic year marked the seventeenth year since the creation of the Office of Scholar Development. In the past five years alone, 349 applications submitted by WKU students and alumni working with the office earned national recognition, totaling more than $2.7 million in external scholarship funding.
| 
