Courtney Bentz, a University of Montana alumna and program coordinator at the TRIO Office, has been named UM’s first Luce Scholar. The Luce Scholars program, supported by the Henry Luce Foundation, provides immersive professional experiences in Asia for emerging leaders. Bentz, who has previously been named a Gilman Scholar, Fulbright Scholar, and received two Critical Language Scholarships from the U.S. Department of State, is excited for the opportunity to further her career goals in international relations.
Bentz’s interest in foreign languages started within her own family, as her great grandparents spoke German and Russian at home. She graduated from UM with a degree in Russian and global studies in 2020. As a Gilman Scholar, she studied in Kyrgyzstan, and later returned on a Fulbright scholarship to teach English.
Bentz’s placement assignment as a Luce Scholar is pending, with orientation in Singapore starting in June. Placements are highly individualized to the scholar’s fieldwork interests. UM’s Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships Director, Kylla Benes, expressed pride in Bentz’s achievements, stating she will be an exemplary representative of UM and Montana as a future diplomat.
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