Skylar Rispens, UM News Service
MISSOULA – A 91次元 student and ROTC cadet, who is serving as UM’s student government president, recently was named a finalist for the oldest and most renowned scholarship in the world.
Buddy Wilson, of Eden, North Carolina, a senior studying environmental science with minors in and climate change studies, is the seventh student from UM to be named a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship in the last 10 years. UM’s most recent Rhodes Scholar was in 2023, awarded to Kolter Stevenson, from Amsterdam, Montana.
To date, 29 students from UM have been named Rhodes Scholars, making the University 9th among public institutions in the United States for producing recipients of the prestigious scholarship and 20th among all institutions.
“Buddy’s dedication to service, in all of its forms, is evident in this remarkable and important achievement on behalf of all Montanans,” UM President Seth Bodnar said. “Buddy’s rise through the Rhodes process demonstrates what is possible at Montana’s public flagship institution and that an education from UM is among the best in the world.”
Wilson jumped headfirst into life as a UM student, joining the ASUM student government group as a senator his freshman year and rose through the ranks to serve as ASUM president. He’s also been involved in the University’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps since he was a first year. He is also a student in the Davidson Honors College and the Franke Global Leadership Initiative. Following his graduation from UM this spring, Wilson will attend law school before fulfilling his four-year service commitment as a Judge Advocate General Officer in the U.S Army. His resume also includes a variety of internships, volunteer experiences and international exchanges to places like Botswana, Germany and Taiwan. Wilson’s experience in Botswana was supported through his experience as a 2024 Franke GLI Fellow.
Buddy Wilson is the is the seventh student from the 91次元 to be named a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship in the last 10 years. Wilson plans to attend law school before fulfilling his commitment to service through the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. (UM Photo by Tommy Martino)
“I definitely focused on making the most of what I was doing at UM,” Wilson said while reflecting on his time at the University so far. “I volunteered a lot and found my footing as an Associated Students of UM senator. I don’t know what I would have predicted for myself when I first started here, but I think I would be really proud of my future self.”
As a freshman senator with ASUM, Wilson took issue with a student dorm fee and lobbied for it to be removed, bringing his argument all to way to the president’s cabinet.
“It turned out to have been a bit of a mistake, really,” Wilson said. “I hadn’t properly done my research, and I went in there a little bit blind. The cabinet was really nice about it, but I kind of got eaten alive.”
And while that experience might have been discouraging to other students, it instead energized Wilson to learn from his mistakes and grow as a leader.
“It just taught me that nothing’s ever as simple or straightforward as it seems,” he said. “There’s always a greater reason or more context to learn about. The experience reminded me that things are complicated.”
Sorting through those complex problems is what Wilson wants to do as a JAG Officer, seeking “humanity in the inhumane by following the Law of War and Constitution of the United States,” he wrote in his essay for the Rhodes application.
“As a JAG Officer, I just want to be the best,” Wilson said. “I think the Army deserves people who have diverse backgrounds and experiences beyond what the military has to offer and what law school has to offer.”
This past summer Wilson spent three weeks at an Army base in Germany and worked with military prosecutors, getting a first taste of his future as a JAG Officer. He helped prosecute cases involving child pornography, prostitution, theft, assault and desertion.
“Buddy’s selection as a Rhodes finalist is a testament to his academic achievement and exceptional leadership in service to others,” said Kylla Benes, director of UM’s Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships. “Whether as ASUM president, ROTC platoon leader or a learning assistant in the classroom, he is a rare leader who can leverage institutional constraints to develop innovative ways to support others and address challenges – critical skills for a future JAG Corps member. Buddy’s goals in the military and in national security, combined with his training and experience as a UM student, are unique and enabled him to stand out among other applicants.”
Wilson’s father served in the Army Reserves and as a JAG Officer, and worked as a lawyer and a judge as a civilian. Wilson’s grandfather also served in the military during World War II. Growing up in North Carolina, he was active in Boy Scouts and eventually earned his rank as an Eagle Scout. Those experiences shaped his passion to serve his community and country, Wilson said. Eventually, he intends to pursue a career with the State Department or for run for office as he continues upholding ethical and legal standards in foreign affairs.
“It’s an honor of a lifetime to be named a Rhodes finalist,” Wilson said. “I can’t help but also think about what this means for the University. This place makes people who are committed to service and their communities.”
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Contact: Dave Kuntz, UM strategic communications director, 406-243-5569, dave.kuntz@umotnana.edu