WWU is tops in the nation in its category for Student Fulbright Awards in 2025-26
BELLINGHAM, WA — Western Washington University has been named the nation’s top Fulbright Producing Institution for U.S. students among master’s-granting institutions by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Seven WWU students were selected for Fulbright awards for 2025-26, placing it atop the category and above institutions such as the University of New Hampshire, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Boise State. Western is also the only school in its category named to the list from Washington and Oregon.
WWU’s Fulbright winners include Zepher Copland (Germany), Jeanine Sheets (Spain), Alex Phengsavath (Germany), Maya Santos (Honduras), Christine Grant (Spain), Eleanor Wilson (Colombia) and Lila Rockwood (Belgium).
“Being named the nation’s top producer of Fulbright students is a remarkable honor and a reflection of the curiosity, dedication and global engagement of our students,” said WWU Provost Brad Johnson. “This recognition speaks to the mentorship of our faculty and staff and to Western’s commitment to preparing graduates who contribute thoughtfully and meaningfully to communities around the world. We are incredibly proud of the students whose hard work and ambition earned this distinction.”
Students and faculty that are interested in applying for a Fulbright should contact the Fellowship Office (https://fellowships.wwu.edu/) and Global Engagement Office (https://global.wwu.edu/) for support, or contact Moore at tmoore@wwu.edu or 360-650-4074.
Fulbright is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is also among the largest and most diverse exchange programs in the world. Since its inception in 1946, more than 400,000 participants from all backgrounds and fields – including recent university graduates, teachers, scientists, researchers, artists, and others from the United States and over 160 other countries – have participated in the Fulbright Program. For more than 75 years, the mission of the Fulbright Program has been to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world and include 41 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 78 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who carry forward the Fulbright mission of enhancing mutual understanding.
For more information about WWU’s Fulbright Program, as well as other fellowship and scholarship opportunities, visit fellowships.wwu.edu.