Pearson College UWC

Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific (Pearson College UWC) is one of eighteen[1] schools and colleges around the world in the UWC (United World Colleges) movement. It is named after the late Canadian Prime Minister Lester Bowles Pearson, winner of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize, and an early champion of the College. The mission of the UWC movement and of the school is to "make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future". The college follows the International Baccalaureate curriculum, and incorporates an experiential education programme, covering the final year of high school and a pre-university year for up to 100 students annually (total cohort on campus up to 200 students), selected from nearly 160 countries.[2]

Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
Location
Metchosin, Victoria
,
British Columbia

Canada
Coordinates48°20′48″N 123°33′51″W
Information
TypeInternational Baccalaureate World School
MottoMaking education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future
Established1974
PrincipalTyrone Pile
Enrollment200
PublicationPearson eNews
Websitewww.pearsoncollege.ca

The interim President and Head of College is Tyrone Pile, CMM, MSC, CD, appointed January 1, 2020. Pile had a 35-year career with the Royal Canadian Navy during which he served as Chief of Military Personnel, Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic (2003-5) and Commander Pacific Naval Forces (2007–10).

History

Lester B. Pearson, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former Prime Minister of Canada, was the driving force behind the founding of Pearson College UWC. After retiring from public life, Pearson became interested in the United World Colleges movement. At that time, only one United World College existed — Atlantic College in Wales, established in 1962. Pearson visited Atlantic College in 1969 and there, met with students and faculty. He came away convinced that there must be more such colleges around the world and, in particular, one on Canada's west coast. He envisioned that:

“Students will be welcomed without regard to race, religion or politics and we intend to establish scholarships so that the students who attend the College will be from all levels of society and will be genuine representatives of their own peoples. This system … could become a revolutionary force in international education.”

Lester B. Pearson became Honorary Chairman of a committee formed to build what was to be known as the College of the Pacific. He worked tirelessly in the early days of the planning process, but died in December 1972, just as the project was getting underway. Soon after his death, it was decided that the College would be renamed Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific as a living memorial to his legacy. The Hon. John L. Nichol, CC, was chosen as initial Chairman of the Board of Trustees and a major fundraising effort began, with over $4 million raised—83% coming from individuals, corporations and foundations across Canada and around the world, and the remaining 17% from governments around the world. Ground broke on the college's construction on Sep. 25, 1973.

Over the next year, Jack Matthews, the founding director of the College, recruited a faculty of men and women from around the globe, and on Sep. 25, 1974, the inaugural cohort of 100 students arrived. An official opening the following year was attended by Lord Mountbatten, Jean Chretien, and Charles, Prince of Wales.[3] Since then, up to 200 students have attended each year. Pearson College UWC continues to be funded through individuals, alumni, corporations, foundations, select provincial and local governments in Canada and some UWC donors.

Today, more than 4,000 students have graduated from Pearson College UWC. Alumni, including several Rhodes Scholars, work in a variety of professions in every corner of the globe.

Academics and administration
Walkway leading to East House, one of Pearson College's residential buildings

The College's main academic curriculum follows the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme – Pearson was the first school in Canada to adopt the IB Diploma Programme. Students are also required to participate in community-oriented services, cultural activities, and physical fitness. A highlight of the academic year is the student-driven, professional-level dance, music and cultural show, "One World", which attracts audiences from Victoria and surrounding communities.

Marine Science Laboratory at Pearson College

Admission

All UWC students are selected by their respective UWC National Committees based on their merit, promise and potential. Each of the nearly 160 National Committees makes recommendations for admission to UWC schools independently and according to their individual selection procedures. Admission is thus extremely competitive, and is deliberately intended to reflect diversity in all respects. Sponsorship to fund scholarships that help make it possible for more students to attend Pearson comes from a variety of organizations, foundations, governments and individual donors.

Campus
Floating Building – Pearson College UWC

The College is located on the shores of Pedder Bay, near Victoria, British Columbia on Vancouver Island, located within the traditional territory of the Beecher Bay (Scia'new) First Nation. The College provides an excellent location for environmental studies thanks to the surrounding woodlands and the nearby Race Rocks Marine Protected Area, an ecological conservation area maintained by the College. Pearson works in partnership with BC Parks, the Canadian Coast Guard and several other committed parties to ensure a resident volunteer Ecoguardian is always present on Race Rocks.

The College has five residence houses that accommodate all students in four-person dorm rooms and, in a connected apartment, resident "houseparents." Houseparents can include some faculty and staff of the College. All student residence houses accommodate male and female students on separate floors and are equipped with common dayroom for study and relaxation. Campus facilities also include a large dining hall, an indoor swimming pool and fitness facility, a large library with study and classroom areas, a student commons building, two theatre-style seating lecture halls as well as traditional classrooms, labs and a floating marine sciences building.

The College's proximity to Pedder Bay allows a broad range of waterfront programs. A fleet of sail boats, kayaks, canoes, and Scuba diving equipment are also stored on the docks and in the floating marine sciences building. Students can access activities only after appropriate training.

Graduates
View from the Director's Lawn of the College. In the distance are the Olympic Mountains.

Recent graduates have placed in some of the world's top universities, and some alumni have become notable leaders in human rights, international development, charitable organizations, business, law, science and other fields.[4] Students from Pearson go on to study in post-secondary institutions around the world including, for example, prestigious institutions such as Brown University, Harvard University, McGill University, The University of Oxford, Princeton University, and the University of Toronto, and as well as Earlham College, Eastern Florida State College, Anglia Ruskin University, University Center of Southern Oklahoma, Biola University, and Western Kentucky University.[5] A longstanding connection between Pearson graduates and Hope International University is particularly well-established.[5]

Seventeen graduating students have been selected as Loran Scholars,[6] the highest number of any single secondary school. Fourteen students have gone on to win Rhodes Scholarships. After graduation, students are eligible to participate in the Davis United World College Scholars Program, which funds undergraduate study based on need at select American universities. In a recent year, the graduating class of Pearson College UWC was collectively awarded $12.5 million in scholarships.[7]

Notable alumni
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gollark: Consider the finite field GF(2) then?

References
  1. "Schools like no other | United World Colleges". uwc.org. Archived from the original on 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
  2. "Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  3. "Pearson College UWC – Canada's school for students of exceptional promise and potential worldwide". www.pearsoncollege.ca. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  4. "Alumni Universities". Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  5. http://www.pearsoncollege.ca/p/?pgn=Alumni&subpgn=Lists&pn=Lists
  6. "Loran Scholars: Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific". Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  7. "Pearson College UWC - Pearson College UWC — Canada's School, 2016 Brochure - Page 14-15 - Created with Publitas.com". view.publitas.com. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
  8. "Douglas Alexander: Electoral history and profile". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  9. "Maldives ex-president Mohamed Nasheed was 'forced out'". BBC News Online. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  10. "The Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross – The Bishop". Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  11. .Astrup, Soren; Egelund, Rikke; Astrup, Elisabeth (2008-09-09). "Enstemmig opbakning til Espersen" (in Danish). Politiken. Archived from the original on 2008-09-12. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  12. "Peter Sands: The banker who's still smiling". The Sunday Times. 2008-09-28. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  13. "Books By Alumni". Alumni Lists. Pearson College. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  14. "Professor Federico Varese". University of Oxford. Retrieved 28 Dec 2013.
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