Prep student selected for UWC 2012 scholarship

(CNS): Madeleine Rowell will be attending the United World College campus school in Montezuma, New Mexico, on a full scholarship, having been selected by the UWC Cayman Islands national committee as its 2012 scholarship recipient. Rowell will be graduating from Cayman Prep and High School this year and at the UWC-USA school she will study for the International Baccalaureate diploma. Along with excellent scholastic abilities, she is also actively involved in community services, such as Key Club and volunteering at the Humane Society and the Pines. UWC Cayman Islands Chairperson Tara Rivers said, “As with most years, this year we had a very impressive set of applicants for the UWC Cayman Islands scholarship.

"The selection committee was quite impressed with the shortlisted candidates, and it made our decision a tough one. That said, I believe Madeleine will do an excellent job representing the Cayman Islands at UWC-USA and I wish her all the best as she embarks on this new, challenging and wonderful experience!”

Rowell will be joining fellow UWC Cayman Islands scholar Zachary Jones at UWC-USA, who has just completed his first year of the two-year IB Diploma programme. Jones, one of the scholarship recipients from 2011, attended the Layman E. Scott Sr. High School prior to his departure. Kathryn Schirn and Abi Drummond, the other two 2011 scholarship recipients, are currently attending UWC Costa Rica and Atlantic College in Wales, respectively.

UWC Cayman Islands is also celebrating the recent graduation of its newest alumni, Hailee Robinson and Kelsey Dixon, who attended UWC-USA and UWC Costa Rica, respectively. Robinson will be attending McGill University in Montreal this fall, and Dixon will be attending the University of British Columbia following a year working for Deloitte in Cayman.

In regards to her selection, Rowell was elated and is very much looking forward to the opportunity. She stated, “I am eternally grateful to my sponsors and members of the CIUWC admission committee, who have put in great effort to make this happen. I will take advantage of every opportunity that is opened up to me through my UWC experience. I am thrilled to become part of the UWC movement, and join this worldwide community of people who share my ideals.”

UWC Cayman Islands is committed to providing full scholarship to promising Caymanian students to attend one of thirteen UWC campuses across the world. It relies upon fundraising as well as private and corporate donations to meet that goal. Rivers extended her gratitude, stating, “I would like to thank our sponsors and corporate donors because, without you, UWC Cayman Islands would not be able to send our very talented, well rounded and bright young people to attend the various UWCs year after year.

"I also encourage businesses and interested individuals to become a part of this exciting and life-changing movement by giving a donation, however large or small it may be, in order for us to help to promote the UWC mission to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.”

Companies and individuals interested in making a donation to UWC Cayman Islands are invited to contact Rivers at CIUWCFoundation@yahoo.com.

The recruitment process for UWC scholars begins in January and February when UWC Cayman Islands representatives visit secondary schools across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac to give presentations about the UWC movement and the local application process. Eligible students must also be 16 by the time they attend UWC.

Written applications are due at the beginning of March and the Selection Committee, which is made of mostly of UWC alumni, reviews each application. Particular consideration is given to academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, community service and a passion for the UWC mission and values, and up to twelve applicants are selected for an individual interview.

Following individual interview the top five or six applicants move on to a group stage, where participants discuss important local and international issues and interact with each other through team building exercises or group projects.

After this final stage the scholar or scholars for that year is/are chosen to represent the Cayman Islands at one of twelve UWC colleges. (There are technically thirteen UWC colleges; however, the campus in Venezuela is an agricultural school intended for non-traditional students.)

Also of note is that students apply to UWC through whichever national committee that corresponds to their nationality. UWC Cayman Islands only considers Cayman students for selection and refer non-Caymanian students to apply through their own national committee as necessary. 

For more information visit www.uwc.org.