LEXINGTON, Ky. — A University of Kentucky junior from Crestwood has been selected for a prestigious scholarship that will fund a three-week study abroad experience at one of the world's most storied universities.

Hunter Coady, an English major in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, was awarded a 2026 English-Speaking Union Scholarship. The award covers full tuition and expenses for his summer program at the University of Oxford.

Coady is also a Gaines and Chellgren Fellow, and Lewis Honors student. While at Oxford, he will attend educational seminars, gain insights from professionals, work alongside fellow students and participate in social events. During his time abroad, he will take two seminars — creative non-fiction and fiction — designed to fine-tune his writing skills and explore his development as a writer.

"Creative writing is my passion, and I hope to make a career out of it," Coady said. "This award will allow me to work on my senior year thesis while I'm there and hone my creative skills, so I can be prepared for graduate school."

Coady plans to write a horror novel for his thesis project. Part of his travels will include visits to literary sites in Dublin and London that relate to his work. After graduating from UK, he intends to pursue a master's and doctoral degree in creative writing with the goal of teaching at a university.

The Gaines Center for the Humanities, founded in 1984, provides support for students pursuing advanced humanities studies. Chelsea Brislin, Ph.D., associate director of the Gaines Center and Lewis Honors College faculty member, is serving as Coady's faculty mentor for the program.

The Kentucky Branch of the English-Speaking Union awards scholarships annually for juniors to take summer courses at institutions in the United Kingdom, including Oxford and Edinburgh universities. The English-Speaking Union of the United States is a nonprofit, nonpolitical educational service organization dedicated to promoting scholarship and advancing knowledge through English in an expanding global community.