2008 Graduating Class

This section provides brief profiles and photos of the Davis United World College Scholars Program’s graduating Class of 2008.

During the preparation of this yearbook, each senior scholar responded to several questions from the Davis UWC Scholars Program. They wrote about the impact of their college experience on their lives, learning, and goals. Many also briefly described their plans and hopes for the future. The profiles that follow quote from their responses.

A B C D E-F G H I-J K L M N O-Q R S T U-V W-Z

	Sandy Wing Tsz Ma Hong Kong Li Po Chun UWC, Hong Kong Colby College As someone passionate about the visual arts, my UWC experience was particularly important in teaching me how to look carefully and how to feel unguardedly, yet with sensitivity. At Colby, I continue to do so while engaging in a broader spectrum of human knowledge and relations. I am indebted to my teachers — Mr. Davis, professors, family, and friends. It has been a privilege to be a Davis UWC Scholar.

	Nicholas Macfarlane Canada Pearson UWC, Canada Princeton University I am incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to go to school here. Pushed to my intellectual limits, I’m more excited about learning than ever before. My next plan is to head to graduate school and study embedded social cognition, a sect of social neuroscience where everything is new and nobody really has any idea what’s going on.

	Nhlanhla Maduna Swaziland Li Po Chun UWC, Hong Kong Earlham College Attending UWC was one of my greatest opportunities. I was able to further my studies, explore the world, and learn about new cultures while helping the needy at the same time. At Earlham College, I decided be a computer science major, and I participated in many community development and environmental programs. After Earlham, I hope to continue contributing to society and to give back what the Davis program offered me so that more students can benefit from it.

	Tiri Maha China UWC of the Atlantic, Wales Middlebury College In Middlebury College, I majored in the field of economics with a concentration in finance. I learned and experienced how already developed countries continue to shape and perfect their financial markets through a long, complex process and proceed to draw-up new fiscal and monetary policies. I also participated in sports activities and volunteer work. This allowed me to understand a different side of America and helped me participate in American culture. I hope to apply this knowledge when back in China.

	Priyanka Mahadevia India Mahindra UWC, India Macalester College One of the most significant experiences of my college life was, as a Chuck Green Fellow, working on a curriculum-building project at a charter school for East African and Latino immigrants. Interning in the victim and witness division of the Ramsey County Attorney’s office in Saint Paul, I experienced an amazing exposure to the legal world. After graduation, I plan to study international and non-profit law.

	Sindy Shui Kee Mak Hong Kong Li Po Chun UWC, Hong Kong Cornell University My Cornell and UWC experiences transformed me to an accomplished young lady. I see myself working in a field that is geared toward cultural understanding, with a focus on education and labor issues. His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, when he visited Cornell this year, “Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.” Dear fellow current and future UWC scholars: Let us all continue to embrace friendship, peace, and compassion and bring them to the world ahead of us.

	Daniel Mancilla Cortez Venezuela Li Po Chun UWC, Hong Kong College of the Atlantic It seems impossible to isolate one experience from the extensive and varied array compiled over the last four years. I am enormously grateful to College of the Atlantic for allowing me to explore my alternatives and develop my potential in a variety of fields, as well as to the Davis UWC Scholars Program for granting me this opportunity. In return, I will continue to make my actions a reflection of my values and strive for the improvement of our ecologies.

	Katlo Manthe Botswana Pearson UWC, Canada Macalester College As a Davis UWC Scholar, I had the opportunity to explore and assimilate my passion in economics and biology, paving the path for my future career in health economics. Macalester’s location enabled me to experience community service, a value acquired through my UWC experience. Prior to UWC and Macalester, I was not as liberal and open-minded about many issues. Now I see no boundaries, and I am ready to share what I know, and to continue to seek the other point of view.

	Kennedy Maring Sudan UWC of the Adriatic, Italy Macalester College I remember a conversation with friends about what the UWC experience had done to our lives. Although we didn’t know what kind of agents of change we were destined to become, we knew our lives had been changed forever. In the United States, volunteering for Planned Parenthood and in high schools, I found myself constantly urged forward by the UWC consciousness I had acquired — that individual contributions do matter and may have a rippling effect on people. That consciousness inspires me every day.

	Kenneth L. J. Martin III USA UWC of the Atlantic, Wales Earlham College At Earlham, I have tried to ground the UWC ideal of engagement with the world through involvement in student government, founding the Earlham Fencing Club, and leading Earlham's Model UN in my senior year. I have convinced myself to always search, even as I come to understand that “finding” is an illusion. The UWC “Change the World” has become, for me, “Better Your Small Corner of the World,” and I intend to pursue that ghost after Earlham.

	Alicia Rose Martinez USA UWC of the Atlantic, Wales Colorado College In addition to my studies in Romance languages, I am involved with the Women's Rugby Club, SOMOS, the Latino student union, and Roots and Shoots, an environmental awareness group whose members work with local children. After graduation, I hope to earn my master’s degree in education and teach Spanish in high school.

	Paninya (Im) Masrangsan Thailand Pearson UWC, Canada Smith College Being a chemistry major in a small liberal arts college allowed me to develop a strong relationship with faculty members. I had many great research opportunities to work on biochemistry and organo-metallic projects here. Smith also provided the opportunity to study foreign languages. Hoping that it would be useful to my science-related field, I chose Japanese. I had a wonderful junior-year-abroad experience in Kyoto, where I significantly improved my language skills, immersed myself in Japanese culture, and, again, promoted international understanding.

	Sefalana Refilwe Matambo Botswana Li Po Chun UWC, Hong Kong Carleton College Looking back on my college career, I realize I have grown not only in the academic arena but also in my awareness as a global citizen. My work with the African Student Association, my experiences in study-abroad programs, and my interactions with myriad, diverse individuals on and off campus have transformed and broadened my ideas of what it means to be an international student in the 21st century.

	Cheryl J. McClurg South Africa Waterford KaMhlaba UWC, Swaziland Middlebury College My father says humans have many rights, but we also have responsibilities that go hand-in-hand with those rights. My experiences at Waterford and Middlebury demonstrated this. One example was my internship with CARE in Lesotho, where I worked with HIV/AIDS orphans, something I have been passionate about since my UWC time. These and other experiences have shaped many of the views and values that I will take with me. I am grateful for this opportunity.

	Martin McIntyre USA UWC of Southeast Asia, Singapore St. Lawrence University I was born in a rural town in Pennsylvania, but my family moved when I was three months old to Hong Kong, where I attended elementary and primary schools. Following the handover to China, my family moved to Singapore, where I enrolled in the UWC. At St. Lawrence, I have a double major in Spanish and global studies. After graduation, I plan to either join AmeriCorps or pursue a culinary degree in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

	Mehvish Mehrani Canada Pearson UWC, Canada Wellesley College The independence in thought and compassion I developed at UWC was invaluable. I knew Wellesley, a college that nurtures strength in diversity, was the right place for me. At Wellesley, my studies sparked a passion for neuroscience. I began to do research using magnetic resonance imaging to study Rett syndrome, a neuro-developmental disorder that affects young girls. My commitment to neuroscience fuels my resolve to remain in the scientific world and use this knowledge for the betterment of society.

	Hameeduddin Mehri Afghanistan Pearson UWC, Canada Westminster College The anticipation I have, the possibilities I see ahead, and my aspiration to contribute all grew vividly during my time at Pearson and Westminster. At Pearson, I didn’t like mathematics, but Professor Michael William at Westminster inspired me to minor in mathematics. I am taking a couple of years off to return to my homeland to help in reconstruction. I want and need more experiences on the way the world works so I will be more certain about the things I fight for.

	Gautam Mehta India Mahindra UWC, India Middlebury College Religion and political science courses opened my eyes to a world I had not been exposed to. They helped me better understand my background and traditions. The four years have been a process of discovery for me. I hope to continue this process, using the skills learned at Middlebury. I plan to work in finance or consulting.

	Araceli Mendiluce Muñoz-Reyes Bolivia UWC-USA Oberlin College After I graduated from UWC, I knew I wanted to make a difference, but I didn’t know where to begin. Fortunately, I found Oberlin, the perfect follow-up to UWC. In Oberlin, I discovered that I want to work in the area of international cooperation for development and, inspired by the UWC ideals, I established a revolving loan fund for education in a Nicaraguan farming cooperative. After graduation, I plan to continue studies in international relations and development.

	Lucia Milagros Mendoza Vargas Peru UWC-USA Hood College It’s so rewarding to see this college experience coming to an end and realize that it has been worth it. The UWC prepared me not only educationally but also personally. Then, I came to Hood to further my education, and I know I made the right choice. I want to stay on the East Coast, get more experience in the financial sector, and then get my master’s degree, probably at George Washington University.

	Simon Michaud Canada Pearson UWC, Canada College of the Atlantic I’ve taught French for two years at College of the Atlantic, Spanish for three years in a local school, French for one year in another Maine school, English in Barcelona for six months, English in Bolivia for three months, and French in Quebec City and British Colombia for six months. I also learned some Kaqchikel Maya in Guatemala and became fluent in Catalan in Barcelona. Please, stop asking me in which language I dream, I just don’t know anymore.

	Moustapha Minte Senegal UWC of the Adriatic, Italy Dickinson College I could not find a better college than Dickinson to implement my UWC experience. I have been very involved through Student Senate and other student organizations. I am also proud to have published a novel in March 2007: Moi, enfant-soldat, enceinte et seropositive (Me, child-soldier, pregnant and HIV-positive). It is about the struggle of a young girl during the civil war in Liberia. Writing it made me even more determined to go back and make a difference in one of those children’s lives.

	Tarini Mohan India Mahindra UWC, India Wellesley College At Wellesley, I have more fully realized my passion for development in the emerging world. My internships with an NGO in Mumbai, where I taught underprivileged children, and my internship in Jaipur, where I helped develop low-cost housing plans for the urban poor, helped ground my interest in development. An internship in the private sector gave me an understanding of the economics of finance and development. The emphasis on social service that UWC instilled in me will continue throughout my life.

	Lucia Morales Cariani Venezuela Li Po Chun UWC, Hong Kong Mount Holyoke College My experience at UWC changed my life in the most positive ways. It has allowed me to approach education as an endless and exciting quest for knowledge. My teachers at UWC inspired me to become a teacher, and I intend to pursue a career in education once I graduate from college.

	Amanda Mmapaseka Monnye South Africa UWC-USA Connecticut College My UWC and college experiences have guided my dream to further economic and political development in South Africa. I now know that dreams remain dreams only if you choose to do nothing about them. Therefore, my aspirations for the future include returning home, rolling up my sleeves, and helping make South Africa a better place to live for all who call it home. To the Davis family, South African National Committee, my family, and my UWC family, thank you for believing and investing in me.

	Scott Moore USA Li Po Chun UWC, Hong Kong Princeton University “Friendships across the world make near neighbors of far horizons.” — Wang Bo, Tang Dynasty

	Vladimir Morar Romania UWC-USA Connecticut College Since the beginning of my UWC journey it seems that I lived outside time, a kind of detachment enabling me to look at myself, others, and the world with clarity and to make wiser decisions. Among those was the decision to immerse myself in a study-abroad program in Germany, where I created strong cultural- and academic-exchange ties through research. I plan to study another language and culture in a few years and thus acquire a deeper knowledge of otherness, knowledge we cannot do without.

	Daphne Morrison Canada Pearson UWC, Canada Middlebury College My UWC experience planted seeds that were consolidated in college. Coming to Middlebury, I didn’t have a clue about what I wanted to study; rather, I had ideas, aspirations, and interests. A liberal arts education gave me a chance to explore and float, while my subsequent focus in political science gave me the tools necessary to formulate my thoughts. I have a lot more to learn, and I don’t know yet what my plans are; I just know that I never want to stop knowing.

	Jessica M. Mowles USA UWC-USA Macalester College It has been an almost inconceivable privilege for me to attend UWC and Macalester. I’ve come a long way from my small Southern town since boarding my first airplane, bound for UWC’s global village. After a number of purposeful trips abroad, the unparalleled advantages of a liberal arts education, and my immersion in the communities in which I’ve found myself, I have emerged a true, global citizen, ready to make my unique, informed, and impassioned contributions to the world.

	Makhethe Mpoti Lesotho UWC-USA Smith College One professor says learning at college level is not only understanding but also “owning knowledge.” Through these college years, I encountered so much I didn’t own but knowledge was not spared. I have been fortunate enough to encounter the spiritual and practical guidance for the work that lies ahead. If I own nothing else, I own that. I am both entitled and obligated to make a difference.

	Mukhaye Muchimuti Kenya Waterford KaMhlaba UWC, Swaziland St. Lawrence University In my time here, I have had many wonderful learning opportunities. I have studied in Costa Rica, been a participant in the Kathryn W. Davis 100 Projects for Peace, and had opportunities to serve my immediate and wider community here. I know I will continue to travel in the hope that I can somehow impact the world positively through what I learn and what I can teach. I intend to pursue a health-related career in either medicine or public/global health.

	John Mumo Kenya UWC-USA Lafayette College It’s hard to single out one person who has been an inspiration, but Professor Jouny in the electrical and computer engineering department definitely stands out. As does my summer internship in Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, which empowers communities by enabling underrepresented but high-potential minority/international students to attain challenging and rewarding careers. I hope to play my part in empowering communities in Kenya financially to benefit generations through a chain-reaction process. A quality youth soccer school is also in the pipeline.

	Nao Munemura Japan UWC-USA Macalester College My experiences at UWC and Macalester helped me to learn about myself. I’ve had wonderful, challenging opportunities — study-abroad in Costa Rica, the No War Conference in Kyoto, and living and learning together with American and international friends — that have definitely reshaped the way I think. I now know my strengths and, most importantly, what I can do for other people. The more I know about others, the more I know about myself, and that is extremely important if I want to make a difference.

	Kithinji Muriira Kenya UWC of the Atlantic, Wales Princeton University Building a school in Kenya, playing rugby, inviting an African head of state to visit Princeton — it’s been a great four years. It was a time to grow as a person but also to try and make a positive impact in the community here and back home. I tried to better inform people and bust a few myths about issues that affect Africa. I plan to work for a couple of years in the United States before going back home.

	Adelina Mustafa Kosovo UWC of the Adriatic, Italy Earlham College Two years at UWC prepared me well for the academic rigor at Earlham College. Earlham offered many opportunities for me to grow as a person. I was able to pursue my interests in Spanish and French. At the same time, I was able to devote enough time to my psychology major. The Quaker values taught me to have a deep acceptance and appreciation for diversity. For the future, I hope to pursue a graduate degree in psychology.

	Tubotu B. Musumali Zambia UWC-USA Colby College It’s hard to put four years of college onto paper, but it’s been time well spent and a lifetime of memories built — be it having a cup of tea and fresh baked cookies every Friday at International Coffee hour, running around campus in an effort to help put together the Shadows of Rwanda Conference, walking backwards while telling prospective students about Colby, running a regression at 3 a.m., or simply meeting up with friends to watch reruns of “America’s Next Top Model.”