NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma is the only public university in the nation to be awarded the prestigious Davis Cup two years in a row in recognition of its record-setting enrollment of United World College international freshmen. OU’s 55 Davis United World College Scholars surpassed last year’s record of 45, when OU became the first public university in the nation to win the Davis Cup. Both years represent the largest classes ever enrolled at a Davis UWC Scholars Program partner institution.

“The OU family is extremely proud to receive this important national recognition,” said OU President David L. Boren.  “Bringing outstanding students from around the world greatly enhances the educational experiences of the University,” Boren said.

OU is one of 91 Davis Program partner colleges and universities in the United States, including Yale; Princeton; Brown; the universities of North Carolina, Virginia and Michigan; Duke; Columbia; and MIT. The 137 Davis UWC Scholars currently enrolled at OU represent 60 countries and all 12 of the United World College campuses worldwide.

United World Colleges are two-year residential schools in which a rigorous International Baccalaureate curriculum is employed with all-English instruction. A diverse international student population exists at each of the 12 UWCs worldwide: no more than 25 percent of the students at each school can be from the country where the school is located. Students are selected by national committees to attend their United World College, where they finish their last two years of secondary education.

Davis UWC Scholars tend not only to be outstanding students, but exceptional members of the university community as well. Since 2008, when OU enrolled its first UWC scholars, these students have achieved recognition at OU as Outstanding Seniors and have served in a variety of leadership roles, including as Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth team leaders, International Advisory Committee executive officers and resident advisers.