Maisie Frost (UK, UWCD’24) is currently spending her gap year exploring the world after receiving a full funding p as a Baret Scholar. Through travel and practical work, including living and working on a farm in Spain, she is gaining real-world skills and perspectives.
After years of leading the development of UWC Dilijan and serving as Chair of the Board since the establishment of the Dilijan International School of Armenia Foundation (DISA) in 2012, Co-Founder Veronika Zonabend has resigned from her role as Chair.
Jonas Borgemeister (Germany, UWCD'26)
"Meeting so many people from so many different parts of the world.” The key goal, he emphasizes, is intercultural understanding. Everyone learns “through the personal background each of us brings.” It was only at UWC Armenia that Jonas truly realized “how valuable it is that we’re all different. I never saw it that clearly before.”
Alice, a lifelong educator with an illustrious career in district schools across several California counties, is a member of the UWCD Board and, together with her husband, participates actively in the school activities and supports a scholarship for an Armenian student.
The Armenian Educational Foundation announced that it will honour UWCD founders Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend with the prestigious Educational Visionaries Award at its 75th Anniversary Gala to be held on 7 September in California.
During the 2025 graduation ceremony on the theme “Your Raise Me Up” our community celebrated the enormous contribution of Mr Shelby Davis to the UWC movement and, specifically, to UWC Dilijan over 10 years since the school’s establishment.
Dr Vladimir Yakunin has been supporting UWCD scholars over the last five years. During the graduation he met with his two current scholars - Aleksandr Grichenko (Russia, UWCD’25) and Elina Mosoian (Russia, UWCD’26) - and an alum Erdni Mangutov (Russia, UWCD’24). Thank you, Dr Yakunin, for your trust and belief in the power of education.
Speech by the UWCD Co-Founder and Chair of the Board Veronika Zonabend at the 2025 graduation ceremony
During their visit, our students Jonas Borgemeister (Germany, UWCD'26), Zhixing (Dan) Song (China, UWCD'26), Mari-Elena Arutyunova (Russia, UWCD'25), and Amevi Kwidama (The Netherlands, UWCD'25) had the opportunity to engage in a brief exchange with President Steinmeier and Ms. Büdenbender, discussing UWC Dilijan, their international backgrounds, and the school’s mission to promote peace and a sustainable future.
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![Changes at the UWCD Board of Governors]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1768895376/uwcdilijanorg/akzs40onjupsufgm2pni/ElisabetEngellauAlicePetrossianHakobSarkissian1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1768895376/uwcdilijanorg/akzs40onjupsufgm2pni/ElisabetEngellauAlicePetrossianHakobSarkissian1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1768895376/uwcdilijanorg/akzs40onjupsufgm2pni/ElisabetEngellauAlicePetrossianHakobSarkissian1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1768895376/uwcdilijanorg/akzs40onjupsufgm2pni/ElisabetEngellauAlicePetrossianHakobSarkissian1.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1768895376/uwcdilijanorg/akzs40onjupsufgm2pni/ElisabetEngellauAlicePetrossianHakobSarkissian1.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1768895376/uwcdilijanorg/akzs40onjupsufgm2pni/ElisabetEngellauAlicePetrossianHakobSarkissian1.jpg","width":2200}])
![Jonas Borgemeister (Germany, UWCD'26)]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1761219507/uwcdilijanorg/adhp0xeepheqosl8jdw8/630_0900_4765897_United_World_College_001-1648x824.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1761219507/uwcdilijanorg/adhp0xeepheqosl8jdw8/630_0900_4765897_United_World_College_001-1648x824.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1761219507/uwcdilijanorg/adhp0xeepheqosl8jdw8/630_0900_4765897_United_World_College_001-1648x824.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1761219507/uwcdilijanorg/adhp0xeepheqosl8jdw8/630_0900_4765897_United_World_College_001-1648x824.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1761219507/uwcdilijanorg/adhp0xeepheqosl8jdw8/630_0900_4765897_United_World_College_001-1648x824.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1761219507/uwcdilijanorg/adhp0xeepheqosl8jdw8/630_0900_4765897_United_World_College_001-1648x824.jpg","width":1648}])
![Supporters in Focus: Alice & Vahik Petrossian]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1759739279/uwcdilijanorg/potuheart2n0exukztjh/78bc436b-47e4-0e35-3b8d-d3b991fbda08.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1759739279/uwcdilijanorg/potuheart2n0exukztjh/78bc436b-47e4-0e35-3b8d-d3b991fbda08.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1759739279/uwcdilijanorg/potuheart2n0exukztjh/78bc436b-47e4-0e35-3b8d-d3b991fbda08.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1759739279/uwcdilijanorg/potuheart2n0exukztjh/78bc436b-47e4-0e35-3b8d-d3b991fbda08.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1759739279/uwcdilijanorg/potuheart2n0exukztjh/78bc436b-47e4-0e35-3b8d-d3b991fbda08.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1759739279/uwcdilijanorg/potuheart2n0exukztjh/78bc436b-47e4-0e35-3b8d-d3b991fbda08.jpg","width":2200}])
![AEF to Honor Ruben Vardanyan, Veronika Zonabend with Educational Visionaries Award at 75th Anniversary Gala]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1755079905/uwcdilijanorg/l8bsb4vggsryxfbd1eat/Ruben-Veronika-at-the-Samsung-lab-at-UWCD_2021-576x375.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1755079905/uwcdilijanorg/l8bsb4vggsryxfbd1eat/Ruben-Veronika-at-the-Samsung-lab-at-UWCD_2021-576x375.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1755079905/uwcdilijanorg/l8bsb4vggsryxfbd1eat/Ruben-Veronika-at-the-Samsung-lab-at-UWCD_2021-576x375.jpg","width":576}])
![Celebrating 25 Years of the Davis UWC Scholars Program]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1750063233/uwcdilijanorg/ngvxgxuhtxpw1qze2646/29_ShelbyDavisandGaleDavis_PicturefromUWCDilijanphotoarchive_11.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1750063233/uwcdilijanorg/ngvxgxuhtxpw1qze2646/29_ShelbyDavisandGaleDavis_PicturefromUWCDilijanphotoarchive_11.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1750063233/uwcdilijanorg/ngvxgxuhtxpw1qze2646/29_ShelbyDavisandGaleDavis_PicturefromUWCDilijanphotoarchive_11.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1750063233/uwcdilijanorg/ngvxgxuhtxpw1qze2646/29_ShelbyDavisandGaleDavis_PicturefromUWCDilijanphotoarchive_11.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1750063233/uwcdilijanorg/ngvxgxuhtxpw1qze2646/29_ShelbyDavisandGaleDavis_PicturefromUWCDilijanphotoarchive_11.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1750063233/uwcdilijanorg/ngvxgxuhtxpw1qze2646/29_ShelbyDavisandGaleDavis_PicturefromUWCDilijanphotoarchive_11.jpg","width":2200}])
![Supporter in Focus: Dr Vladimir Yakunin]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1749457101/uwcdilijanorg/gufjta8ocqkjgzaaeuup/DSC03026.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1749457101/uwcdilijanorg/gufjta8ocqkjgzaaeuup/DSC03026.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1749457101/uwcdilijanorg/gufjta8ocqkjgzaaeuup/DSC03026.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1749457101/uwcdilijanorg/gufjta8ocqkjgzaaeuup/DSC03026.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1749457101/uwcdilijanorg/gufjta8ocqkjgzaaeuup/DSC03026.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1749457101/uwcdilijanorg/gufjta8ocqkjgzaaeuup/DSC03026.jpg","width":2200}])
![Speech by the UWCD Co-Founder and Chair of the Board Veronika Zonabend at the 2025 graduation ceremony]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1749456735/uwcdilijanorg/ucehbm94q7vpwwoswtpl/DSC09485.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1749456735/uwcdilijanorg/ucehbm94q7vpwwoswtpl/DSC09485.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1749456735/uwcdilijanorg/ucehbm94q7vpwwoswtpl/DSC09485.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1749456735/uwcdilijanorg/ucehbm94q7vpwwoswtpl/DSC09485.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1749456735/uwcdilijanorg/ucehbm94q7vpwwoswtpl/DSC09485.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1749456735/uwcdilijanorg/ucehbm94q7vpwwoswtpl/DSC09485.jpg","width":2200}])
![UWCD Students Encounter President of Germany in Dilijan]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743658912/uwcdilijanorg/dhljiftia3cagvctifs7/MG2_10521.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743658912/uwcdilijanorg/dhljiftia3cagvctifs7/MG2_10521.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1743658912/uwcdilijanorg/dhljiftia3cagvctifs7/MG2_10521.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1743658912/uwcdilijanorg/dhljiftia3cagvctifs7/MG2_10521.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1743658912/uwcdilijanorg/dhljiftia3cagvctifs7/MG2_10521.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1743658912/uwcdilijanorg/dhljiftia3cagvctifs7/MG2_10521.jpg","width":2200}])