Skidmore College Davis UWC Scholars

In 2004 the Davis United World College Scholars Program (DUWCSP) invited Skidmore College to join its growing list of American colleges and universities affiliated with and supported by the foundation of Shelby and Gayle Davis. Colby, College of the Atlantic, Middlebury, Princeton and Wellesley were the five pilot schools in the program that began in 2000. Skidmore was invited as the first expansion group of 47 colleges four years later. The DUWCSP encourages colleges to internationalize their study body by supporting need-based scholarship awarded to matriculated graduates of any one of (now) 12 United World Colleges (high schools) around the world. Suxin Cheah ’08, Joseph Kaifala ’08 and Kipsy Ndwandwe ’08, made up the inaugural class of Davis Scholars. In the 2012-2013 academic year, 40 Davis Scholars are now enrolled at Skidmore across the four classes. United World Colleges themselves have a common mission of making “education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.”

Skidmore Davis UWC Scholars share collective gatherings at different moments of the year and through the DUWCSP campus liaison, Chloe Jaleel, are notified of special program and fellowship opportunities. As a result of Skidmore’s participation in the DUWCSP, Skidmore students can apply for The Davis Projects for Peace grants.

The mission of the Davis UWC Scholars Program is in direct alignment with so many of the values we celebrate at Skidmore College: learning from different worldviews, embracing challenges and being engaged citizens of the world. Through their leadership, motivation and compassion, our Davis Scholars make lasting impressions on the Skidmore community, and the education, opportunities and lifelong connections they gain at Skidmore help them pursue their dreams and inspire change around the globe.

MARC C. CONNER, President