This summer, Durand Henderson—who is on pace to graduate from UTC in December—will spend nine weeks immersed in virtual Korean language courses taught by faculty from Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea. Photo by Angela Foster.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior Durand Henderson has always embraced challenges.
This summer, he is tackling a new one with national significance.
Henderson, a United States Air Force veteran and adult learner majoring in business administration with a concentration in economics—to go with minors in personal finance and political science—has been selected for the prestigious Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Spark program for Korean.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, CLS Spark is a competitive opportunity that provides intensive language instruction and cultural enrichment experiences to American students, building future leaders with global engagement skills.
Henderson, who is on pace to graduate from UTC in December, will spend nine weeks immersed in virtual Korean language courses taught by faculty from Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea. The program runs from June 9 to Aug. 8.
“I chose Korean because I’ve always had a fascination with East Asian culture, especially from a military and security standpoint,” Henderson said. “Even though I’m no longer serving, I still have that military hat on. I want to help out my nation in any way I can. Learning Korean is a step toward that.”
Classes will be held live online daily, complemented by one-on-one consultations, weekly cultural activities and extensive independent study. Participants also connect with language partners from the host university for conversational practice.
“One cool thing about the program is they have a Facebook group for people who’ve gone through the Korean program or are currently in it,” Henderson said. “It’s a pretty cool community. They’re willing to help each other out, so I know I’ll always have someone to reach out to for practice or extra studying.”
Durand Henderson
Henderson’s path to CLS Spark is its own story. A 2011 graduate of Cass Technical High School in Detroit, he originally planned to complete college and then pursue a commission as an Air Force officer.
He began his studies at Jackson State University in Mississippi before transferring to Wayne State University in Detroit. But after two years in college, he enlisted in the Air Force in 2014—attaining the rank of E-4 and serving as an HVAC technician. His time in the Air Force included being deployed to Qatar in 2017.
While stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California, Henderson completed an associate degree in electrical and mechanical systems from the Community College of the Air Force. He also continued his education online by taking classes through Southern New Hampshire University.
After separating from the Air Force in October 2018, Henderson initially stayed in California’s Bay Area before relocating with his wife, Troya—a Navy veteran—to nearby Hixson in 2021 to be closer to both of their families.
He enrolled at UTC in August 2022 and quickly became involved as a Veteran and Military Affairs Student Ambassador.
It was through his coursework at UTC that Henderson discovered the CLS Spark opportunity. He credited Dr. R.J. Groh, associate lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Public Service, for encouraging him to apply.
“Dr. Groh highly recommended it, especially with my military background,” he said. “She said it would line up well with my goal of becoming a foreign service officer.”
The CLS Spark will be Henderson’s first formal step toward a career in diplomacy—with aspirations to join the U.S. foreign service after graduation.
“I want to help stop the nuclear disturbances between South Korea and North Korea,” he said. “Diplomatic peace is a big goal of mine. It’s ambitious, but I feel like I can help out with that. I know it’s a big step, but this program is a start.”
Looking ahead, Henderson sees the CLS Spark training as an essential step in his career journey.
“I talked to Vinny Nguyen, who did CLS Spark last year for Mandarin,” Henderson said, “and he told me it was rigorous—but once you get in the rhythm, you see how well it’s put together. Now he’s going abroad and that inspired me.
“If someone else can do it, I know I can do it.”
Henderson said he is eager to make the most of his summer immersed in Korean language studies from behind a computer screen.
“I know basics—like how to say hello—and I know the structure of how their language is formed, such as the subject coming first and a verb coming at the end,” he said, “and I’m always looking to challenge myself.
“This is another way to do that and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
Learn more
The Office of National Scholarships
