Wuthikah Pun is attending Centre College as a Lincoln Scholar, which is a scholarship awarded to remarkable young people with the capacity and strong desire to transform the world. Wuthikah is pursuing degrees in Economics and Finance and International Studies. Wuthikah was elected the president of the International Student Association last May and she is an active participant in discussions on cultural sensitivity and inclusion on campus, ensuring safe spaces for students from various backgrounds to feel seen and heard. Wuthikah studied abroad in Thailand and France, and then finished her sophomore year with a summer program in French Polynesia, Tahiti.
During her first two summers at Centre, Wuthikah conducted an exploratory study on sports for community and youth development in Knoxville, Tennessee and in Cambodia with her professor. She also did a fellowship with the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC) on global health and attended a Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Public Service Weekend, both of which gave her a great deal of hope for her future as a change agent working toward her vision of a better Cambodia.
Wuthikah previously completed an Associate degree in Banking and Finance from the National Bank of Cambodia’s Center for Banking Studies. She is driven by a deep-rooted passion for transforming Cambodia’s economy and empowering marginalized communities through microfinancing, financial literacy programs in public schools, financial inclusion, and gender equity. Before coming to Centre, her community initiative in Cambodia, One Hope for the Whole Family, took aim at the cycle of poverty in Siem Reap’s rural communities. She fundraised to assist two widows in starting chicken farms so that they could support their families and keep their children in school.
Wuthikah hopes that her future work will help with the creation of new policies that support Cambodia along a path of sustainable social and economic development. She intends to follow a life of labor and service to effect change in her country and hopes to serve as a role model for other young Cambodian women who all play a vital role in the development of their nation.
Highlights From Wuthikah’s Work Experience:
Student Research Assistant, Centre College International Studies Program
Information Assistant and Circulation Assistant, Centre College Grace Doherty Library
Center for Banking Studies Intern, National Bank of Cambodia
Dean’s List GPA: 3.961
Languages Spoken: English and Khmer
