In the first weekend in July UWC Adriatic welcomed two generations of alumni for a particularly special reunion: members of the Adriatic Class of 1986–88 celebrating forty years since graduation, together with graduates from UWC USA marking their tenth anniversary. Despite the decades separating them, the weekend revealed just how timeless the UWC experience remains.
From the moment alumni arrived in Duino, the atmosphere was one of joyful recognition. Friends immediately resumed conversations interrupted decades earlier, laughed over old photographs and revisited places that had formed the backdrop to some of the most important years of their lives. Some were returning for the first time since graduation; others were discovering the Adriatic campus for the very first time through the shared reunion with UWC USA alumni.
The Saturday Plenary Session once again became the emotional heart of the weekend. The College leadership offered updates on today’s students, educational programmes and fundraising for scholarships, including a much-appreciated first address by the new Rettore, Marco Gemelli, while alumni shared deeply personal reflections on the lasting influence of UWC in their lives.
Their stories differed in circumstance but shared remarkable common themes. Many spoke of arriving as teenagers carrying assumptions about other countries, cultures or even historic conflicts, only to discover that living together transformed those perceptions. Others reflected on how UWC gave them the confidence to challenge inherited beliefs, choose unexpected career paths or simply develop the courage to care for others. One alum described growing up in a Palestinian refugee camp before arriving in Duino, where sharing a room with an Israeli student fundamentally changed his understanding of conflict and humanity. Another reflected on confronting difficult aspects of South Africa’s history through conversations with classmates from around the world. As one alumna concluded, “Peace is not an idea but is built through conversations and willingness to overcome.”
These stories illustrate something central to the UWC educational model: peace is not taught as an abstract concept but experienced every day through dialogue, shared responsibility and the willingness to understand perspectives different from one’s own.
That same sense of community was evident throughout the reunion. Many alumni spoke of encouraging their own children to attend UWC schools, while others described how, wherever life has taken them, they have always found another member of the UWC community ready to offer friendship, advice or support. Forty years after graduation, the values first experienced in Duino continue to shape lives around the world.
The weekend concluded with the traditional Gala Dinner and Fundraising Auction, where alumni once again demonstrated their commitment to future generations. The Reunion Gift this year supports Marah, an incoming student from Syria, ensuring that another young person will have the opportunity to experience the same education that has meant so much to those gathered in the room. Bidding ranged from treasured pieces of UWC history to holidays, artwork and experiences donated by alumni themselves, with spontaneous gifts and shared purchases adding to the atmosphere of generosity and celebration.
The reunion ended as it had begun – with conversations continuing long into the night. Yet the strongest message to emerge from the weekend was simple: UWC Adriatic is far more than a place where students spend two years of school. It is a community that remains part of people’s lives for decades, inspiring friendships, service and a shared commitment to building a more peaceful world.
The success of the weekend would not have been possible without the invaluable contribution of our volunteers: Joanna and Yamini from the University of Oxford, who joined the College through the Summer Internship Programme, together with Alessandro, Marianna and Nina, to whom we extend our heartfelt thanks.
