Armand Hammer United World College of the American West
| United World College-USA | |
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UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future
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| Location | |
| Montezuma, New Mexico, U.S. | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent Coed, Boarding |
| Religious affiliation(s) | none |
| Established | 1982 |
| President | Lisa A.H. Darling |
| Faculty | 34 |
| Enrollment | 203 total All boarding 52% Boys, 48% Girls 75% International |
| Average class size | 15 students |
| Student to teacher ratio | 6:1 |
| Campus | Rural, 110 acres (0.45 km2) 27 buildings |
| Color(s) | Navy blue/Aquamarine |
| Affiliation | The United World Colleges |
| Website | www.uwc-usa.org |
The United World College-USA (or UWC-USA) is a United World College founded in 1982 by industrialist and philanthropist Armand Hammer. It is a two-year, independent, coeducational boarding school with about 200 students representing 80-90 countries at any time. The vast majority of these students receive full scholarships, being selected by the 124 National Committees that represent the United World Colleges around the globe.
The school's mission is to teach international understanding by bringing together young men and women of diverse ethnic and social backgrounds, in an environment in which they must work together for success. In addition to offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, the school has a strong program in the arts and a significant service program, including mountain search and rescue. Typically, students are between 16 and 19 years old.
Graduates are typically accepted at the most competitive colleges and universities around the world. In late 2007, the Wall Street Journal identified United World College - USA as one of the world's top 50 schools for its success in preparing students to enter top American universities.[1]
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[edit] History
The Armand Hammer Foundation purchased the property in order to establish a United World College in the United States in 1981. Major renovations of existing buildings preceded the school’s opening in the fall of 1982, an event that was attended by HRH Prince Charles, president of the United World Colleges movement. The school's founding president was Theodore D. Lockwood, who served from 1982 until 1994. Philip O. Geier III served as president from 1994 until 2005, when he passed the reins to Lisa A. H. Darling.
In 1998, the school's endowment was significantly increased through the generosity of investment manager Shelby M.C. Davis and his wife Gale. Their gift today secures the largest block of the school's student scholarships and makes this school (and all the other UWCs) 100% free for all American students. Their initial gift of $45 million in 1998 was, at the time, the largest private donation ever made to international education.[2][3]
A subsequent fellowship program, also established by the Davis family, covers the tuition of many graduates at over 80 colleges and universities in the United States and Europe, including Amherst College, Brown University, Carleton College, Colby College, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Georgetown University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Lake Forest College, Earlham College, Macalester College, Oberlin College, Smith College, Tufts University, Princeton University, and Yale University.
[edit] Campus
The Montezuma Castle, now the Davis International Center, houses student and faculty residences, classrooms, seminar rooms, and offices, in addition to the student center, college dining facility, and the Bartos Institute for the Constructive Engagement of Conflict.
The Old Stone Hotel, the first hotel opened in Montezuma (as the Hot Springs Hotel) was renovated in 1981 to serve as administration building, until the restoration of the Montezuma Castle was completed. The OSH now houses the administrative offices of the Vice President, Dean of Students, Dean of Co-curricular Programs, Registrar, Business Office, Counseling Service, Wilderness Service Program and the College Archives. In ,the mathematics department and the English faculty have its offices in the building, as well as English classrooms. Dedicated in 2000, in honor of former president Theodore Lockwood and former Development Director Lu Lockwood, the Lockwood Library now houses more than 20,000 volumes and 1,800 media files.
The Oscar Getz Memorial Hall, givenby Martha Getz, serves as the President’s House. Formerly the staff house of the Hot Springs Hotel, was renovated in 1981 to serve as the residence of the president and his family, as well as guest house. Distinguished guests such as HRH Prince Charles of Wales and Malcolm Forbes have resided there.
The Sasakawa Center houses the faculty club at UWC-USA, as well as meeting facilities. The house, former student center before the restoration of the Castle, is an example of 19th century architecture, and carries an endowment from Hiroichi Sasakawa.
The Anixter-Poole Hall, given by the Anixter and Poole families, houses a recreation swimming pool and hot tub. The facility is powered by solar panels and its totally self sufficient from natural energies.
The Zeinal-Zade Science Building, given by Swiss-Azerbaijani businessman Kemal Zeinal-Zade, houses the department of experimental sciences, together with two physics labs, two chemistry labs, two biology labs, as well as a ceramic oven and classrooms. An early 2000 addition now houses the wilderness program class space as well as an extra multi-functional laboratory.
The Kluge Auditorium, given by cinema mogul John W. Kluge, in 1988. Houses the main auditorium, as well as the arts department, including art classrooms, music classroom, piano practice room, recording studio, and a work space for dramatic production. The a uditoriumhouses close to a hundred events a year, including college assemblies, cultural days, theatre performances, lectures and conferences.
The Geier Center for Technology and Languages, given by the Trustees in honor of President Emeritus Philip O. Geier III and former Development Director Amy Y. Geier, houses the Information Technology department, compromising three computer labs, high-end printing facilities; as well as the language department and class space.
The Pedro Medina Fields, with separate the country road from the lower campus area, was dedicated in 2008 to former groundskeeper Pedro Medina, in appreciation for his 24 years of service to UWC-USA. The playing fields host numerous college traditions and events including graduation (weather permitting), soccer and baseball.
[edit] Location
The school, in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, is located at 35°39′15″N 105°16′52″W / 35.65417°N 105.28111°W in the town of Montezuma, New Mexico, just northwest of the city of Las Vegas, New Mexico, about 70 miles from Santa Fe.
The campus includes the historic Montezuma Castle.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Lousewies van der Laan, Dutch politician
- Marcelo Calliari, Former Director of Competition, Government of Brazil
- Paul Grimes, Australian Deputy Secretary of Defense, Department of Finance and Deregulation
- Philippe Wamba, American journalist
- Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark
- Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece
- Sebastien de Halleux, chief operating officer and co-founder of Playfish
[edit] References
- ^ Staff writer (2007-12-28). "How the Schools Stack Up". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-COLLEGE0711-sort.html. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
- ^ Anon. "S&G Foundation, Founded by Shelby and Gale Davis, Donates $45 Million to United World College, Montezuma, NM," PR Newswire, July 23, 1998
- ^ Russell, J. "Teaching Global Understanding: Donor Pays For Almost 700 Foreign Students," The Boston Globe, July 21, 2005
- Dreams & Promises: The Story of the Armand Hammer United World College : A Critical Analysis, Theodore D. Lockwood, 1997
[edit] External links
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United World College of the Atlantic · United World College of South East Asia · Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific · Waterford-KaMhlaba United World College of Southern Africa · Armand Hammer United World College of the American West · United World College of the Adriatic · Simón Bolívar United World College of Agriculture · Red Cross Nordic United World College · Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong · Mahindra United World College of India · United World College of Costa Rica · United World College in Mostar · United World College Maastricht |
