ETSU student awarded Fulbright
Kyla Jernigan has always been fascinated by monsters — what they reveal about culture, fears and stories handed down through generations.
Now, the East Tennessee State University senior is headed to Hungary on a 2025-26 Fulbright U.S. Student Award to explore those themes through research and community engagement.
She is the first ETSU student to win a Fulbright, one of the most prestigious and competitive academic honors in the world.
“This is a huge opportunity to travel and explore the world in ways I never thought I could,” said Jernigan, a theater major with a concentration in design and production and a member of the Bert C. Bach Fine and Performing Arts Scholars program. “Just a year ago, I didn’t even know what Fulbright was. Now I’m preparing for nine months in a new country doing what I love. It’s been a collaborative journey, and I’m especially grateful for the mentors who helped me get here.”
In Hungary, Jernigan will conduct a research project examining monsters and mythology as cultural symbols. In the spring, she will lead a workshop for middle school students, helping them design and create monster costumes based on local folklore and their own imaginations.
“Hungarian culture doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, but it has some incredible festivals and traditions related to monsters and myth,” Jernigan said. “I’m excited to learn from the community and contribute in creative ways.”
She credits the Office of Prestigious Awards and ETSU faculty and staff with helping her navigate every step of the Fulbright process.
“This award reflects the power of curiosity and creativity, and the strength of community at ETSU,” said Dr. Brian Noland, ETSU president. “We are incredibly proud of Kyla’s achievement and look forward to the impact her work will have abroad and here at home.”
Jernigan joins a growing legacy of ETSU students who have earned nationally competitive awards. Earlier this year, student Leah Loveday received the Harry S. Truman Scholarship. In recent years, others have been named finalists for prestigious honors like the Rhodes Scholarship. This spring, ETSU celebrated a record-breaking cohort of Gilman Scholars.
“For more than 20 years, the Bert C. Bach Fine and Performing Arts Scholars has supported and celebrated the successes of its students, each one representing the dynamic energy and excellence of all the arts at ETSU,” said Dr. Scott Contreras-Koterbay, director of the Bach program at ETSU. “Kyla Jernigan’s award of a Fulbright scholarship is one of the highest achievements by any student in the history of the entire program, and it is a testimony to her boundless creativity, personal drive and dedication, professionalism and exemplary leadership.”
It was a momentous moment for Dr. Carson Medley, director of the Office of Prestigious Awards.
“When I started this office two years ago, I was told that expecting a student from ETSU to win a Rhodes, a Truman — or especially a Fulbright — was like hoping for a monster payout in Keno,” said Medley. “But Kyla has proven that person wrong. Turns out monsters were the key to a Fulbright payout.”
East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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