2 RMI students win UWC 2-year ride

On the right, the happy duo of Majuro Cooperative School sophomore Hannah Reimers and Assumption High School junior Berlin Philippo who won scholarships to study at United World College schools in Japan and Germany, respectively. Photo: Tamara Greenstone-Alefaio.
On the right, the happy duo of Majuro Cooperative School sophomore Hannah Reimers and Assumption High School junior Berlin Philippo who won scholarships to study at United World College schools in Japan and Germany, respectively. Photo: Tamara Greenstone-Alefaio.

KELLY LORENNIJ

Two United World College (UWC) scholarships have been awarded to sophomore Hannah Reimers from Majuro Cooperative School and Berlin Philippo, who is in her junior year at Assumption High School.

Reimers will join Bertine Lakjohn who is currently finishing her first year at UWC International School of Asia, Karuizawa (ISAK) in Japan. ISAK became the 17th member of the UWC movement in 2017 when Lakjohn started her first year. Philippo will be attending UWC Robert Bosch College in Freiburg, Germany. She will be the third student from the RMI to attend Bosch College. Preceding her were UWC alumnus Selina Leem and Kelyna Glanry, who is scheduled to graduate in May.

The UWC National Committee for the Marshall Islands, coordinated by the University of the South Pacific (USP) campus, commented that all the candidates were excellent this year, and that the two students were selected by unanimous endorsement of the committee.

They made good impressions as USP Director Dr. Irene Taafaki told the Journal, “They are two energetic, committed girls. We feel that they will meet the academic and community expectations of UWC.”

The UWC National Committee held a full-day program Tuesday that led to the selection of the two high school students from a shortlisted group that was chosen for the final review process from a larger number who applied for the coveted UWC scholarship opportunities.

National Committee members are: Dr. Taafaki, Prof. Emeritus Andrew Garrod, Alson Kelen, UWC alumnus Eve Burns, and Mathilda Johnson, mother of UWC graduate Beverly Johnson. Assisting with the application and selection process were Tamara Greenstone-Alefaio, formerly with USP Campus in Majuro and now working for the Micronesian Conservation Trust in Pohnpei, and USP Majuro Acting Manager of Campus Life and Community, Vocational and Continuing Education Kimber Rilometo.

Read more about this in the March 2, 2018 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.