Today, NAFSA: Association of International Educators announced that The University of Tulsa has been selected to receive a 2026 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization, named after the late Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois.
“It is wonderful to be recognized by our leading national association, NAFSA, with this prestigious award,” Vice Provost Vivian Wang said. “The award also highlights our expansion of Jumpstart Oklahoma to better serve our new international students. Above all, it is a testament to the commitment and dedication of faculty and staff across campus who support our international community and enhance the overall student experience through the Jumpstart program.”
The Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award recognizes a specific program or initiative that contributes to internationalization on campus. The 2026 Spotlight Award recipients are:
- The University of Tulsa: Jumpstart
- University of Delaware: World Scholars Program
- Western Kentucky University: WKU Resilient Refugee Program
Jumpstart is a week-long, pre-matriculation global learning experience designed to build a strong sense of community, broaden students’ horizons and introduce them to academic and co-curricular opportunities at The University of Tulsa. Since its launch in 2017, Jumpstart has become a signature initiative, now offering six international program locations that immerse incoming students in global learning before their first semester begins.
Modeled after the long-standing success of Jumpstart’s overseas programs, Jumpstart expanded in 2025 to include Jumpstart Oklahoma, a domestic experience for new international students that introduces participants to Oklahoma and the Tulsa community. Through engagement with local cultural heritage and history and visits to key industries and government agencies, Jumpstart Oklahoma provides international students with meaningful cultural context and connection.
“It was truly rewarding to see our international students dive into the local community with such enthusiasm,” said Taylor Jennings, director of international student engagement. “Watching them enjoy the process of discovering Oklahoma’s unique identity while building genuine connections with the people here is exactly why this program exists.”
The program reflects the university’s intentional design of Jumpstart being the entry point to a four-year global learning journey and transforms early intercultural curiosity into sustained global competence throughout the student experience at UTulsa.
The Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization recognizes excellence in integrating international education throughout all facets of university and college campuses. The 2026 Comprehensive Award recipients are:
- Lone Star College
- Luther College
- Saint Louis University
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Washington University in St. Louis
“We are pleased to honor the achievements of eight institutions that have distinguished themselves as standard-bearers in the practice of internationalization,” said Fanta Aw, NAFSA executive director and CEO. “Amid a rapidly changing higher education landscape, their demonstrated excellence and innovation in preparing students for a globalized society and workplace provide the field with welcome inspiration. With five repeat winners this year, we are again reminded that campus internationalization at its best is a continuous, dynamic process. We applaud all of this year’s awardees for their unwavering dedication to building a more globally connected future.”
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 be honored during NAFSA’s 2026 Annual Conference & Expo this spring. Learn more at nafsa.org/SimonAward.