UWC-USA Viewbook

“Set out from any point.

They are all alike. They all lead to a point of departure.”

—Antonio PorchiA, itAliAn Poet, 1885–1968

90%

In a survey of alumni, more than 90 percent said that UWC-USA had the greatest impact on them of all the educational institutions they attended.

Are you ready?

UWC’s mission is to use education as a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. That’s no small task, especially for a student.

Where to begin?

We invite you to start here.

At UWC-USA, you’ll be challenged academically while earning an International Baccalaureate Diploma. You’ll push yourself physically hiking trails on wilderness excursions. You’ll test your assumptions about the world while tackling service projects in the local community. You’ll discover your best friend, who may come from a country you’ve never heard of before.

At the end of two years, you know you won’t be finished. In fact, you will realize it’s just the beginning. You’ll keep pushing, testing, discovering—and through every action you take, you will become a UWC-USA agent of change.

“Attending UWC-USA changed the course of my life. I would not be where I am today without it; it gives me enormous pleasure to think that I can help other young people change their lives and the world at large by attending a UWC.” —entrepreneur and UWC-USA benefactor Victoria Ransom ’95, whose company Wildfire was acquired by Google UWC-USA PG 1

The Wall Street Journal ranked UWC-USA 20th in its list of top high schools. The ranking was based on the number of graduates attending eight top universities.1

AtoZ

Each year, UWC-USA typically has students who represent at least 70 different countries.

Since our founding in 1982, we’ve had students from 120 countries, from Albania and Afghanistan to Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

How we started As the Cold War gripped the world, educationalist Kurt Hahn had a bold idea.

Hahn, who founded the premier outdoor leadership program Outward Bound, decided he would start a school that would bring together students from around the globe to engage with each other on the basis of shared humanity. Hahn was successful, and in 1962, United World College (UWC) opened its doors. It was quickly hailed as “the most exciting experiment in education since World War II.” 2 Hahn didn’t simply dream about change. He was a fearless doer. Hahn’s vision launched a movement that now includes more than a dozen schools and colleges on five continents, including UWC-USA—the only UWC in the United States.

Hahn’s boldness has permeated every aspect of the UWC movement, and it is reflected in UWC-USA students and alumni. Some of our graduates are bold and quiet: teachers infusing students with enthusiasm for knowledge; doctors healing the sick in modern hospitals

and tiny rural clinics; architects designing innovative structures with sustainable materials. Others are bold and thunderous: entrepreneurs introducing new technologies and ideas; government leaders advancing ethical policies; scientists pushing the boundaries of the possible. Whichever bold they are, UWC graduates make an impact.

To be bold is to have more than simply courage or passion. It is to be an informed citizen of the world, grounded in academic reason. It is to have empathy for difference and the ability to understand and respect multiple perspectives. It is to be inspired.

UWC-USA students may begin their two years as dreamers, but like Hahn and all the UWC alumni who’ve come before them, they graduate as doers. They study hard, they push their own limits, and they find new passions.

And when they are done, they graduate not just as scholars but as true global citizens equipped with the skills to change the world.

“The striking thing about UWC students is that they embrace the entire world across all divides of race, history, culture, wealth, religion, economic status, and political belief: They are unique and they are conscious of their responsibilities.”

—UWC Honorary President Nelson Mandela UWC-USA PG 2

$ to endowment Students use the campus apple grinder and cider press to make up to 40 gallons of cider from campus apples. They also use the campus dehydrator to produce up to 15 pounds of dried apples.

To mark the school’s 30th anniversary, eight UWC-USA alumni invested in future students by contributing $1.75 million for scholarships—an amount that was matched by benefactor Shelby M.C. Davis to add $3.5 million to the school’s endowment.

UWC-USA PG 3

30 speakers

Each year, UWC-USA hosts 30 guest speakers. Past speakers have included Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, as well as Nobel laureates.

25

LANGUAGES UWC-USA students can study in more than 25 languages, including Mandarin.

Intellectuals and Inquirers UWC-USA offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, but your classes will be unlike any you experience at other IB schools.

Imagine sitting in history class, discussing World War II. You and your 12 peers have read the same textbook, but you have dramatically different perspectives. The student from Japan shares her family’s harrowing experience in Nagasaki. The boy from Poland talks about his great-uncle who was a member of the resistance. The girl from Detroit, Michigan, tells of her grandfather’s experience as an African-American in the Army.

Start here to learn in a whole new way.

The IB Diploma is one of the most respected and recognized secondary diplomas in the world, and it is accepted by most colleges and universities. UWC helped pioneer the IB, and today there are nearly 3,000 IB schools across the globe. Our faculty is highly

respected in the IB community, and many of our teachers lead regular training sessions for other IB educators.

Students earn the IB Diploma by completing six subjects in six different academic disciplines: language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, experimental sciences, mathematics, and the arts. In addition, students must complete an in-depth research paper and meet specific co-curricular requirements. Final exams in each academic subject are assessed by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) according to international standards.

The primary language of instruction at UWC-USA is English, with the exception of language courses. Students with limited English skills receive support from our mother tongue teacher, who works to find mentors from among our alumni community.

Learn more about the IB subjects at www.uwc-usa.org/IBdiploma.

“We do not simply want to produce educated young people; we hope to nurture and educate activists and future leaders who can identify and help resolve the challenges within their own societies and contribute to stability, peace, and justice in the wider world.”

—HRH Queen Noor of Jordan, President of the UWC movement

UWC-USA PG 4

Ninety percent of our students have never hiked, camped, or slept in a tent before coming to campus.

After the first week of orientation, all of them have.

Explorers and Travelers UWC-USA is located in northern New Mexico, at the edge of the Pecos Wilderness in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It is a perfect starting point for an array of adventures, and learning takes place in a broad range of settings and locations. Your science lab may be a grassy patch of land near the Gallinas River; your anthropology class might take place at a Native American pueblo.

Start here to encounter unique regions and cultures.

Every student goes on a backpacking trip during orientation. Never camped in a tent before? Don’t worry—most of your peers haven’t, either. Through our Wilderness Program, you’ll learn all the skills you need to hike, cook, and sleep in the great outdoors.

And you’ll learn more than that.

Self-confidence, leadership, teamwork, and a profound sense of environmental stewardship are typical outcomes of the Wilderness Program.

In addition to wilderness excursions, all first-year students participate in Southwest Studies trips in the fall and Project Week expeditions in the spring. Southwest Studies offers a variety of opportunities to explore New Mexico and nearby states, and a service project is generally part of the program.

Project Week trips also focus on service, and activities have included work with immigrants on the Mexico/U.S. border, teaching high school students about HIV/AIDS, supporting teens at a local juvenile detention center, or working with other volunteer agencies across the state.

Learn more about wilderness and travel programs at www.uwc-usa.org/exploration.

“The Davis UWC scholars bring distinctive contributions to Duke that enrich our campus community and enhance our commitment to providing an education that is engaged with the world.”

—Duke University President Richard H. Brodhead

UWC-USA PG 5

Student Wilderness Program leaders hike an average of 130 to 160 kilometers each year.

250 children Math Games tutors (students) teach math skills to 250 elementary school children per year.

UWC-USA PG 6

Every year, 20,000 gallons of rainwater are caught and used for campus gardening efforts.

Our soccer team plays 12 offcampus games per year against local club and university teams. The 18 team members practice three to four times per week and play friendly games on campus almost every Friday.

Artists and Athletes If you are an accomplished pianist, an all-star soccer player, an award-winning artist, or an amateur dancer, actor, or singer, you will find plenty of ways to express yourself at UWC-USA.

Beyond the classroom, there are dozens of opportunities to perform. Students create skits, perform original songs, and choreograph dances all year. You don’t have to be an expert to participate.

Start here to hone your skills or discover a passion.

As with the arts, students must satisfy a physical education requirement to earn their IB Diploma. The Edith Lansing Field House offers squash courts, a weight room, a climbing wall, and an indoor gymnasium where student teams play soccer, volleyball, and basketball. The school also sponsors a competitive soccer team, which travels throughout New Mexico to participate in tournaments.

Art is one of the six subject areas for the IB Diploma, which means almost every student takes at least one art class. We believe art is as important as math: Creativity fosters problem-solving, analytical thinking, and communication—core skills we believe every individual needs for long-term success.

Students have learned skills in jewelrymaking, blacksmithing, ceramics, and more.

At UWC-USA, it’s not uncommon to uncover a new talent.

Learn more about arts and athletics at www.uwc-usa.org/beyondclassroom.

“Our Davis UWC scholars have … become inspiring leaders of campus organizations, [and they] have been pushed to reshape their picture of the world and to grow.”

—Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro

UWC-USA PG 7

Students lead the recycling effort and collect up to 45 pounds of trash per day—40,000 pounds per year.

45 lbs

Students organize dozens of events throughout the year, including an annual conference, culture shows, discussions, dances, and other social events.

Allies and Advocates A change agent must know how to navigate tricky situations and find diplomatic solutions that honor and respect all parties. It’s not enough to tolerate or accept difference.

A change agent must be empathetic, compassionate, and wise.

Start here to learn how to do it.

UWC-USA students spend more than 18,000 hours working on community projects every year. Whether you are helping at a homeless shelter, tutoring elementary school children, or volunteering at the local hospital, you learn how to work with people who may be very different from you. You become a skilled listener, and in listening, you learn that perhaps you aren’t so different after all.

From there, it’s easy to become an advocate.

You will know people’s experiences, and you will be able to share their stories and help others understand their lives. In the process, you’ll discover your own strength and ability to help bring about change.

UWC-USA gives you the tools to be an effective advocate and ally. The Bartos Institute for Constructive Engagement of Conflict is UWC’s flagship peer mediation and collaborative leadership program.

Through it, hundreds of students have mastered the delicate balance of managing conflicts and seeking peace and justice for all.

The Bartos Institute regularly brings guest speakers on campus to discuss regional and global issues, and it offers workshops and an annual conference in which all students participate. Speakers have included Nobel Prize Laureate and former Polish President Lech Walesa, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum, and author Bill McKibben, founder of the environmental group 350.org.

Learn more about community engagement at www.uwc-usa.org/bartos.

“UWC students from around the world—individuals of immense intellectual curiosity and talent—call Cornell home, and we benefit from their dynamic contributions to our campus and global communities.”

—Cornell University President David J. Skorton

UWC-USA PG 8

UWC-USA offers 28 IB subjects.

That number is remarkable, given the size of the school. The IB diploma is one of the most recognized high school diplomas in the world.

UWC-USA students stand up for what they believe and often speak at community and government meetings on issues such as solar power, water issues, and more.

Friends and Mentors When students talk about their most cherished moments at UWC-USA, dayroom conversations often top the list.

These discussions—sometimes emotional, sometimes heated, sometimes just plain silly— take place in the dorm day room, a common space where you’ll share a refrigerator, a microwave oven, and many memories.

provide advice, direction, and support for the students in their residence, and they also uphold and enforce the expectations and rules of the school. Residential staff members often hold group discussions, activities, and workshops with students to create a dynamic, respectful community where everyone’s voice can be heard.

Most dorm rooms pair two students, and each pair includes a first- and second-year student from different countries. You will laugh together and learn from each other.

From cooking ramen noodles to talking about religious values and politics, you will connect in deep, meaningful ways.

UWC-USA employs 24-hour security officers, a nursing staff, and professional counselors to provide support for students facing personal or social challenges. The school contracts with a local doctor, and the hospital is 10 minutes from campus.

In addition, nearly all our faculty and administrators live on campus and serve as role models and mentors.

Start here to begin lifelong friendships.

Each dorm has live-in adult resident tutors (RTs) who work with assistant resident tutors to ensure a safe, positive environment. RTs

Learn more about residential life at www.uwc-usa.org/campuslife.

“UWC-USA influenced me deeply. Think big: What can we do to change the problems our world has? … International understanding is the principle for peace.”

—Aurelio Ramos ’91, Nature Conservancy director of conservation programs in Latin America

UWC-USA PG 9

The Davis UWC Scholars Program provides grants in support of needbased scholarships to UWC alumni who chose to pursue their undergraduate degrees at one of the nearly 100 Davis Scholar partner colleges and universities in the U.S.

Nearly every second-year student takes “The Plunge” after completing their final exam—they race to the Gallinas River and jump in to celebrate the completion of their secondary academic career.

Seekers and Makers When Ruben Ayala ’92 graduated from UWC-USA, he returned home to Panama and volunteered for Operation Smile, an international humanitarian organization that provides surgeries to children from disadvantaged communities. Ruben found his future, and after earning his medical degree, he came back, becoming Operation Smile’s vice president of international programs and medical affairs.

Ruben lives the UWC mission every day— so do thousands of our alumni. They work for nonprofit organizations, direct public policy at local or national levels, invent new uses for technology, and raise children to be good, responsible citizens. Wherever they live or work, UWC-USA alumni bring unique insights and values to the communities and institutions with which they are involved.

Your future starts here.

Our graduates often have their pick of top colleges and universities around the world.

UWC-USA staff work closely with secondyear students to hone college essays and applications, and the school hosts dozens of college representatives every year.

Once students graduate from a UWC school, they are eligible for undergraduate scholarships through the Davis United World College Scholars Program. Created by philanthropist Shelby M.C. Davis and former UWC-USA President Phil Geier, this scholarship opportunity is available to all UWC alumni from anywhere in the world.

The program provides grants in support of need-based scholarships to one of nearly 100 Davis UWC Scholar partner colleges and universities in the U.S. Whichever college or university they attend, UWC-USA students typically become campus change agents. They form new clubs and associations, seek out internationally minded peers, and bring their unique vision to classes and lectures.

“The Davis UWC scholars arrive with many different perspectives on the world and contribute their unique knowledge and experience to making Princeton a much more interesting and cosmopolitan place in which to live and learn.”

—Princeton University President Shirley M. Tilghman UWC-USA PG 10

Student volunteers at the soup kitchen serve 175 homeless and low-income people per year.

Pounds of food composted each year: 30 pounds a day; 25,000 pounds per year.

serve 175

UWC-USA PG 11

Each week, the school community consumes 700 pounds of fresh fruit; 600 pounds of meat, chicken, and fish; 160 gallons of milk; 36 pounds of cream cheese; and 50 pounds of coffee.

160 gallons

2,500 More than 2,500 people benefit annually from UWC-USA students’ community engagement services, activities, and events.

Beauty and Grandeur UWC-USA is surrounded by majestic pine forests. The Rio Gallinas flows nearby, and miles of trails offer nearly endless opportunities for adventure. The area enjoys an average of 300 sunny days a year, and while it snows in the winter, the climate is generally mild.

Start here to experience education in a glorious setting.

The 200-acre campus is anchored by the famous Montezuma Castle. Built in 1881 as a luxury hotel and completely refurbished in 2001, the Castle includes two dorms, classrooms, offices, and the Dining Hall. In addition to the Castle dorms, four single-sex residential buildings house about 40 students each. Each dorm has a separate common room with a lounge and a kitchenette. Dorms also have wireless service and computer rooms with connections to the Internet and a printer.

Additional facilities include the following: > the Lockwood Library, which offers an extensive collection of books and research materials in addition to online resources > the Geier Center for Technology, where students can use school-provided computers and receive assistance from our tech staff > the Edith Lansing Field House, the indoor sports complex > the Zeinal-Zade Science Center, with fully equipped laboratories for experimentation > the Kluge Arts Center, which includes an auditorium, art and music studios, and a music recording studio > the Dining Hall, a grand room worthy of Harry Potter where the entire school community gathers for healthy, tasty meals > the Dwan Light Sanctuary, a famous piece of western landscape art designed to be a space for peaceful contemplation.

Learn more about our location at www.uwc-usa.org/campus.

“I want to work in an area where human rights and climate change intersect. Development and climate change are human issues.”

—activist Anjali Appadurai ’09, whose speech before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in South Africa received international media attention The Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-COLLEGE0711-sort.html David Sutcliffe, Kurt Hahn and the United World Colleges With Other Founding Figures, Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia, 2012

1 2

UWC-USA PG 12

UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.

P.O. Box 248 Montezuma, NM 87731-0248 USA www.uwc-usa.org