by Thomas Roosma

Orcas Christian School

The Orcas Christian School family would like to congratulate Emma Smith on her graduation from the 2012 class of United World College.

Smith was one of 50 students in our country selected to attend UWC as a Davis Scholar and United States ambassador. United World College’s mission is to “unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.”

Nelson Mandela, who is an honorary president of the college, said, “The striking thing about UWC is that they embrace the entire world across all divides of race, culture, wealth, religion, economic status, and political belief: they are unique and they are conscious of their responsibility.”

UWC was founded in 1962 with the vision of bringing together young people whose experience was of the political conflict of the cold war era, offering an educational experience based on shared learning, collaboration and understanding so that the students would act as champions of peace.  There are 13 schools across the globe and more than 140 countries with National Selection Committees. Smith’s graduating class of 103 has students representing 96 different countries.

Smith will be attending Duke University in the fall.