Enrollment Increases to 850 – Student Body Includes 53 Countries – Up from 48
Lausanne Collegiate School is at it again! The east Memphis International Baccalaureate World School has surpassed its record-breaking enrollment from last fall and welcomed to campus this morning over 850 students while maintaining an 8:1 student/teacher ratio. Last year, the number was just over 800. In addition, the number of countries represented by the student body has increased from 48 to 53, adding Columbia, Georgia, Israel, Poland, Romania and Zambia. The Tully Dining Hall at Lausanne was refurbished over the summer in response to the growing student body (a United Nations assortment of flags hangs from the ceiling honoring the diversity of Lausanne’s students).
The school year kicked off this Monday, August 13, 2012 with the University of Memphis Tigers’ Coach Josh Pastner inspiring Middle School students at 8:30 a.m. The entire student body, PK-12th grade students, cheered on the class of 2013 as the seniors arrived on campus at 9:30 a.m. for the annual senior drive in. Afterwards, an all-school pep rally included the ringing of the bell (the only bell of the year) and official start of school. At 10:30 a.m., all students new to the Upper School will tapped the academic seal in a tradition that also includes a final “tapping of the seal” on the day of their graduation.
Dr. Ron Wilder, Lausanne’s new head of Upper School, was on hand to celebrate all of the school’s first day traditions.
Dr. Wilder joins Lausanne after a national and international search and the retirement of former head of Upper School Dr. Thomas W. New. Dr. Wilder has spent the last 20 years in overseas educational posts as teacher, high school principal or head of secondary. He has vast experience with both Advanced Placement and the International Baccalaureate (IB) including introducing the IB to a school in South Korea while serving as principal and most recently at the International School of Kenya, where he was deeply involved in the re-authorization of the IB.
The International School of Kenya has similar traits to Lausanne including a student body of 840 students from over 75 nationalities. They also share Lausanne’s 100% graduation and college acceptance rates.
Dr. Wilder received his bachelor’s degree in political science from George Washington University and a master’s degree of philosophy in peace studies from Trinity College, University of Dublin. In addition, he earned his doctorate in education in education policy and administration from the University of Minnesota.
There are many new faces to welcome to Lausanne this year as well as much to celebrate as the 68 members of the class of 2012 begin their collegiate adventures having received 135 acceptances to colleges and universities across the country, matriculating to 51 of those schools and receiving over $10.4 million in scholarships.
We can’t wait to see what our students will do next! It's a new year...The Lausanne Way!
