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Robert J. Schweich Receives World Learning Citation

World Learning paid tribute to Board of Trustees member Robert J. Schweich for four decades of service to the organization and his role in developing the Outbound Ambassador Scholarship at a celebration (view dinner program PDF) held May 7. The scholarship has sent hundreds of New York-area high school students abroad on The Experiment in International Living.

Board Chair Emeritus Stephen Lowey presented the World Learning Citation to Schweich in the presence of more than 130 Experiment alumni and members of the Schweich family at the Harvard Club of New York. Read the press release.

In his acceptance speech, Schweich fondly recalled his own Experiments to the Netherlands in 1953 and to Denmark in 1955. He described how befriending fellow Experimenter Tedd Alexander, an African-American student from Atlanta, inspired him to develop the scholarship which aims to ensure diversity among the Experiment’s participants.

Among those expressing their appreciation for Schweich's commitment to the Experiment were Eduardo Seda, Tené A. Howard and José M. de Jesus—all New York-area residents who were recipients of the Outbound Ambassador Scholarship.

De Jesus likened Schweich to a fairy godfather, who recognized his potential as a high school student and intervened when the Experiment admissions team initially rejected his application 18 years ago. Because of Schweich, de Jesus said his life was changed on an Experiment to Brazil, which motivated him to "live and breathe The Experiment" by going on to lead seven groups on four continents.

The World Learning Citation—formerly known as The Experiment Citation—is awarded by the Board of Trustees to individuals who "model the challenges, joys, and responsibilities of global citizenship and community through their own international and cross culture experiences."