Media Advisory: Honorary Alumnus Recognition
December 4, 2008
What:
Shelby M.C. Davis, founder of the Davis United World College Scholars Program, will be recognized as an Honorary Alumnus and speak to Davis Scholars
Who:
- Shelby M.C. Davis – Davis United World College Program founder
- Philip Geier, Ph.D. – Davis Program executive director
- Joe Glover, Ph.D. – Provost and senior VP for academic affairs
- Bill Kolb- retired UF admissions director and Davis Program coordinator Davis United World College Scholars
Where:
Ustler Hall, located off Fletcher Drive on the University of Florida campus
When:
December 5, 2008 at 12:15 p.m.
Background:
The Davis United World College Scholars Program is helping the University of Florida embody its commitment to increase cultural and economic diversity.
The program is a major philanthropic force in promoting international understanding and provides scholarship support for Davis United World College Scholars from around the United States and the world.
Program founder, Shelby M.C. Davis and Philip Geiger, executive director of the program, will be visiting UF to attend a luncheon with up to 51of the exceptional undergraduate students now enrolled in the Davis United World College Scholars Program. Many of these international students could not attend college were it not for the program.
The program provides scholarship support for current Davis United World College Scholars. Students become Davis United World College Scholars by completing their last two years of high school at a group of international schools called United World Colleges. Twelve schools around the world comprise the United World Colleges, where students earn a high school International Baccalaureate degree. At the University of Florida and at 87 other universities and colleges, Davis has funded most of the cost of attending college for disadvantaged students who are graduates of United World Colleges.
The schools were founded with the explicit aim of fostering peace and international understanding. Admissions are based solely on merit, irrespective of race, religion, politics and the ability to pay.
Davis will be recognized by the UF Alumni Association as an Honorary Alumnus.
He founded Davis Advisors in 1969, and has grown it into a multi-billion dollar mutual fund and money management firm. Davis began his career at The Bank of New York where he rose to be the head of the research department and was named the youngest vice president since Alexander Hamilton
Geier has had a distinguished career in international education and served 12 years as president of United World Colleges USA before he was appointed as Executive Director of the Davis United World College Scholars Program in 2005.
For Davis Scholars who matriculate at UF in fall 2008 and beyond, Davis has agreed to fund each student’s unmet financial need, at up to $20,000 per student, as long as the university enrolls five or more Davis Scholars per year. Davis Scholars enrolled in prior years receive $10,000 per year.
UF has actively recruited UWC graduates since 2004 and has received gifts for financial aid through the Davis United World College Scholars program since 2006.