Alvin M. and Arvella D. Bentley Scholarship

Overview

Alvin M. Bentley III graduated from the University of Michigan in 1940 and spent most of his life in public service supporting civil rights and improvements in higher education. He devoted the early part of his career to the United States diplomatic corps as a Foreign Service Officer in Mexico, Colombia, and Hungary from 1941 to 1950 before serving four terms in Congress as an 8th District Representative. Bentley was also a member of the U-M Board of Regents from 1966 until his death in 1969. His wife, Arvella “Billie” Bentley, was a trustee on the board of Nazareth College and the Hawaii Preparatory Academy, and served as a member of the Friends of the Bentley Historical Library. The scholarship was established by the Bentleys to recognize academic excellence and leadership potential in Michigan residents.