Armand Hammer United World College of the American West

(Redirected from UWC-USA)

UWC-USA (legally named the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West) is a United World College school in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. It was founded in 1982 by businessman Armand Hammer. UWC-USA is a two-year, independent, co-educational boarding school accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest.[1]

Armand Hammer
United World College
of the American West
Location
,
Information
TypeIndependent Coed, Boarding
MottoUWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future
Established1982
PresidentDr. Victoria Mora
Faculty34
Enrollment228 total
All boarding
Girls: 54% Boys: 46%
International Students: 75%
US and Canada: 25%
Average class size15 students
Student to teacher ratio9:1
CampusRural, 110 acres (0.45 km2)
27 buildings
Color(s)Navy blue/Aquamarine
NewspaperThe Literati
AffiliationThe United World Colleges, International Baccalaureate
Websitewww.uwc-usa.org

History edit

 
UWC-USA campus

American mogul Armand Hammer's The Armand Hammer Foundation purchased the property 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 HM King Charles III, then HRH Charles, Prince of Wales, and president of the United World Colleges movement at the time. The school's founding president was Theodore D. Lockwood, who served from 1982 until 1993. Philip O. Geier served as president from 1993 until 2005, when he passed the reins to Lisa A. H. Darling, whose presidency ended in 2013. The school's fourth president was Dr. Mukul Kumar '89, an alumnus and leader in international education, who left the school in 2016. The school is currently led by Dr. Victoria Mora, born in Albuquerque, a mother as well as a former Dean of the Santa Fe campus of St. John's College.

In 1998, the school's endowment was significantly increased through the generosity of investment manager Shelby M.C. Davis and his wife Gale.[2][3] Their gift today secures the largest block of the school's student scholarships and provides $25,000 scholarships for all Americans who attend this school (or any other UWC) after being admitted by the U.S. national committee. Their initial gift of $45 million in 1998 was, at the time, the largest private donation ever made to international education.[4][5]

In late 2007, The Wall Street Journal identified UWC-USA as one of the world's top 20 schools for its success in preparing students to enter top American universities.[6] In 2010, UWC-USA was ranked a “Top Ten Program” by U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy.[7]

Location edit

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 / 35.65417; -105.28111 in the town of Montezuma, New Mexico, just northwest of the city of Las Vegas, New Mexico, about 70 mi (110 km) from Santa Fe.

The campus includes the historic Montezuma Castle.[8]

Notable alumni edit

References edit

  1. ^ "School Directory - Independent Schools Association of the Southwest". www.isasw.org. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  2. ^ "Montezuma castle, other Las Vegas buildings now open for tours - Albuquerque Journal".
  3. ^ "$100M pledge to benefit United World College - Albuquerque Journal".
  4. ^ "S&G Foundation, Founded by Shelby and Gale Davis, Donates $45 Million to United World College, Montezuma, NM," PR Newswire, July 23, 1998
  5. ^ Russell, J. "Teaching Global Understanding: Donor Pays For Almost 700 Foreign Students," The Boston Globe, July 21, 2005
  6. ^ Staff writer (2007-12-28). "How the Schools Stack Up". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  7. ^ "Global Leadership Forum". Uwc-Usa. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2015-09-29.
  8. ^ Grimm, Julie Ann (May 31, 2023). "Castles, Ruins and Mysteries V – Unlocking repurposed and ignored history". Santa Fe Reporter. pp. Cover. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Alexander Stille (2016-10-04). "Who murdered Giulio Regeni?". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  10. ^ Media, Kompas Cyber (5 January 2018). ""Alarm" Iqbaal Ramadhan Selama Sekolah di Amerika Serikat". KOMPAS.com.
  11. ^ Narvaiz, Matthew (May 29, 2023). "New Mexico's World College helped shape Wall Street Journal Editor Emma Tucker". Albuquerque Journal.

Sources edit

  • "Dreams & Promises: The Story of the Armand Hammer United World College : A Critical Analysis", Theodore D. Lockwood, 1997

External links edit