A University of Montana student, Buddy Wilson, has been named a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, one of the most prestigious academic awards in the world. Wilson, who is from Eden, North Carolina, is a senior majoring in environmental science with minors in international development and climate change studies. He currently serves as president of the Associated Students of UM (ASUM) and is an ROTC cadet.
Wilson is the seventh UM student to be named a Rhodes finalist in the past decade. The University has produced 29 Rhodes Scholars to date, ranking ninth among public institutions and twentieth among all U.S. institutions for producing recipients of this scholarship.
“Buddy’s dedication to service, in all of its forms, is evident in this remarkable and important achievement on behalf of all Montanans,” said UM President Seth Bodnar. “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 began his involvement at UM as an ASUM senator during his freshman year and progressed to become student government president. He has also participated in Army ROTC since his first year at UM and is involved with both Davidson Honors College and the Franke Global Leadership Initiative. After graduating this spring, he plans to attend law school before fulfilling a four-year commitment as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer in the U.S. Army.
Reflecting on his time at UM, Wilson said: “I definitely focused on making the most of what I was doing at UM. 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, Wilson challenged a student dorm fee by lobbying for its removal up to the president’s cabinet level. He admitted: “It turned out to have been a bit of a mistake, really. 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.” Despite this setback, Wilson said it motivated him to learn from mistakes and develop 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.”
Wilson spent three weeks last summer at an Army base in Germany working with military prosecutors on cases involving child pornography, prostitution, theft, assault and desertion—an experience that gave him insight into his future role as a JAG Officer.
“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 comes from a family with military service; both his father—a former JAG Officer—and grandfather served in uniform. Growing up active in Boy Scouts where he achieved Eagle Scout rank helped shape his commitment to community service.
“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.”
