What an amazing way to say happy birthday.
Pearson College UWC announced a $1-million donation for scholarships on the same day the Metchosin-based school celebrated 40 years of providing topnotch education for students from around the world.
Sir John Daniel, chair of the United World College International board, made the announcement during the school’s Founders Celebration Day.
The gift, from American philanthropist Shelby M.C. Davis, will match dollar for dollar all donations to Pearson College to that amount. The donation is part of an initiative that will see all 15 UWC schools receive $1 million for talented students so they can receive a UWC education, regardless of their socio-economic background, politics, religion, ethnicity, language or gender.
Tony Macoun, chair of the College’s board of directors, thanked the Davis family for their extraordinary donation.
“Thanks to this generous contribution from Shelby and Gale Davis, we will continue to see this dream take flight,” Macoun said. “The world needs extraordinary leadership to navigate the today’s complex challenges. We hope many others will join us to provide more UWC scholarships for aspiring youth from all parts of the world.”
He credited the imagination of the founders and commitment of supporters for enabling Pearson College to grow into a monument Canada can be proud to call its own.
The Founders Day event was special for Macoun and included many former students, teachers and people from the community who have supported Pearson College throughout the years.
“It was a very moving affair,” he noted. “I was very delighted to see so many host families.”
He was particularly pleased to see a Metchosin resident who has hosted students since the school opened 40 years ago, and continues to do so. A billet from her first year as a host was also on hand. Another highlight for Macoun was seeing Robert Hutchison, an original board member who went on to a distinguished career as a lawyer and also served as a B.C. Supreme Court judge.
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