WKU News

Western Kentucky University is one of eight universities in the nation selected by NAFSA: Association of International Educators to receive a 2026 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization. 

Named after the late Senator Paul Simon of Illinois, the awards celebrate outstanding commitment and accomplishment in campus internationalization.

WKU is one of three universities awarded The Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award, which recognizes a specific program or initiative that is “outstanding and innovative” and contributes to internationalization on campus. WKU was recognized for the WKU Resilient Refugee Program. 

“From our founding, WKU has been committed to providing the highest quality education for qualified students to support the economic, cultural and creative growth of our surrounding communities,” said Dr. John Sunnygard, WKU Associate Provost for Global Learning and International Affairs.

“This honor is shared by all at WKU, including our faculty, staff and students who are committed to maintaining a welcoming place to learn,” said Dr. Sunnygard. “Equally, the award goes to our refugee students who have worked hard to achieve average GPA’s of 3.5, worked outside the classroom to support themselves and their families and have committed to adding to our local economy.”

Institutions selected for the Simon Awards will be featured in NAFSA's annual report, Internationalizing the Campus: Profiles of Success at Colleges and Universities, to be published this fall, and honored during NAFSA’s 2026 Annual Conference & Expo this spring. To learn more about NAFSA’s Senator Paul Simon Awards, visit nafsa.org/SimonAward. 

About NAFSA: Association of International Educators: NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world's largest and most comprehensive nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. NAFSA promotes policies that ensure the continued growth and impact of global learning, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding through study abroad, international student services, and campus internationalization. With a network of over 10,000 professionals in the field at more than 3,500 institutions in 150+ countries, NAFSA is committed to fostering a more globally connected and peaceful world. 

About WKU Global: WKU Global is an organization that advises and provides support to students who want to study abroad, including domestic and international students.