October 24, 2007
Clark University named partner in Davis UWC Scholars Program
Worcester, Mass. - Clark University has been named a partner in the Davis United World College Scholars Program. The program is intended to help internationalize the American undergraduate experience by supporting need-based scholarships for graduates of the worldwide United World College schools who enroll at selected American colleges and universities.
"Clark University and the Davis United World Colleges Scholars Program share many of the same values," said Clark President John Bassett. "Both embrace diversity, promote cultural literacy and international understanding, and encourage students to be active citizens. Each provides students with opportunities to experience hands-on learning and to develop leadership skills. Clark and the Davis UWC Scholars program both attract talented students eager to be engaged in learning and in contributing to society."
The program provides scholarships to students from around the world who have succeeded during their final two years of high school at one of the international schools called United World Colleges. These UWC schools are now in the United States, Bosnia, Canada, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Norway, Singapore, Swaziland, the United Kingdom and Venezuela. Since the founding of the first UWC in 1962 at the height of the Cold War, these schools have provided opportunities to students from some 175 countries, representing all regions of the world. Students are selected in their home countries by indigenous, voluntary committees, and receive scholarships to attend the partnering colleges.
To assist these schools in meeting the financial needs of their scholars, Davis philanthropy contributes up to $10,000 of need-based aid for each scholar, every year of a four-year undergraduate degree program. All these additional schools also are awarded a $5,000 grant each year to support their admission outreach.
Other higher education institutions added as partners for 2007-08 include MIT, Bard, Stanford, University of Chicago and the University of Oklahoma.
Projects for Peace
As a result of its inclusion in the Davis UWC Scholars Program, Clark has been invited to participate in the Davis Projects for Peace initiative. This is an invitation for all undergraduates on our campus to design grassroots "projects for peace." The selected submissions will be funded at $10,000 each and implemented during the summer of 2008. The idea is to encourage and support today’s motivated youth to create and try out their ideas for building peace in the 21st Century.
Harold M. Wingood, Associate Provost and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, will serve as the campus contact for the Davis Program and will convene a committee to review student proposals that a are due to the committee by Jan. 31, 2008.
"This is an extraordinary opportunity for our students," Wingood said. "The program hopes to fund at least one Projects for Peace award at each of the 85 UWC Scholars Program partners. Given the character of the Clark student body, I would not be surprised if we received more than one."
The Davis United World Colleges Scholars program was created by philanthropist Shelby M.C. Davis, a semi-retired fund manager.