From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Bahamas United World College National Committee announces its 40th anniversary
By Pam Burnside UWC National Committee
Jan 15, 2012 - 1:53:30 PM
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WITH MINISTER: Back Row, Left to Right: Shawn Forbes (UWC graduate), 5 UWC Ambassadors (Mia Andrews, Shaniece Pinder, Jewel Charles, Dominic Bowers, Nicholas Archer), David Sheasby (UWC Treasurer). Front Row: UWC Chairperson, Mrs. BJ Deveaux
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The
year 2012 commemorates the fortieth year of service to The Bahamas by the UWC
National Committee and the fiftieth anniversary for United World Colleges
International.
The
Bahamas UWC National Committee, which is comprised of a volunteer group of
committed individuals, is proud of their record of achievement which includes
ninety-three (93) scholarships awarded to date with a significant increase in
the annual scholarships and placements over the past three years from one or
two per year to the current number of nine scholar-ambassadors who are presently
completing their two-year IB degrees abroad.
Committee
Chairperson, Mrs B.J. Deveaux expressed sincere thanks to the donors and
sponsors who have made the funding for these scholarships possible and urged
more members of the public to support the efforts of the Committee. “Our
mission is to continue to make these unique educational opportunities available
to students from both the public and private schools throughout the entire
Bahamas. We encourage students, particularly those from the public schools, to
complete the application process for this year which closes on Tuesday, January
31, 2012 (http://www.bahamas-uwc.org/).
The UWC experience is without doubt an amazing force to unite people, nations
and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.”
Nelson
Mandela, the UWC Honourary President stated, “The striking thing about the
United World College 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.” The
Bahamas UWC National Committee applauds the vision of Nelson Mandela and
supports the UWC mission to educate the whole person. This is carried out in 13
UWCs located on five continents including: UWC Mostar - Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Lester B Pearson/UWC of the Pacific in Canada, UWC Costa Rica, Li Po Chung - UWC
of Hong Kong, UWC Mahindra - India, UWC of the Adriatic – Italy, UWC Red Cross
Nordic – Norway, UWC of South East Asia – Singapore, UWC Waterford Kamhlaba -
Swaziland, Simon Bolivar/UWC of Agriculture – Venezuela, UWC of the Atlantic –
Wales, and UWC Maastricht – the Netherlands.
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Members of the Committee at the end of the first successful fundraising Triathlon event in 2011
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It
is well established that UWC represents significant opportunities for
excellence in academics, tremendous exposure to diversity, and an essential
commitment of “giving back” to the communities, nations and the world. In the
words of Her Majesty Queen Noor, UWC President, “I suspect that no one would
argue that UWC’s ideals of peace and international understanding are not as
relevant – perhaps more relevant – in today’s conflict-scarred world than when our
first College was opened more than four decades ago in the aftermath
of the Second World War and as an antidote to international conflict.”
Over
the forty years of UWC Bahamas’ history, the awarding of scholarships by the Committee
has provided opportunities for its students to engage in an exceptional two
year transition period between leaving the standard high school environment and
entering a college or university. Travelling abroad and interacting with
persons from other cultures is an amazing way to truly experience globalization.
One of the alumni sums up the
experiences of fellow UWC scholar-ambassadors by describing it as “positive,
life changing and the best decision ever made.”
The
benefits of a UWC education are numerous, not only socially, but economically
as well. Upon completion of the UWC IB Programme, students are eagerly courted
by well known colleges and universities around the world and are most often
granted substantial scholarships, particularly from the Shelby Davis Foundation
(http://www.davisuwcscholars.org/)
which provides scholarships to ninety-five (95) distinguished institutions in
the United States. This, in and of itself, is tremendous incentive to attend a
UWC.
A
brief look at the list of alumni and current students is further proof of the
success of the programme and incentive for interested students to apply. As the
Committee’s ultimate goal is to establish a UWC right here in The Bahamas, it welcomes
donations from the public and the participation of alumni, students, and others
who are interested in the UWC mission. Alumni are encouraged to join the UWC
Bahamas facebook page, and the public can check the website (http://www.bahamas-uwc.org/) for
additional information and the current application form. Interested persons can
also email the Committee at bahamasuwc@gmail.com or contact members of the National
Committee for further assistance.
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