UWC Scholar Story: Ursula Calle Pinto '26
Ursula Calle Pinto '26 is an international student from Peru. She graduated from United World College (UWC) Changshu in 2021. She shared her experience as a Davis UWC Scholar at Bennington College.
Reflected Ursula:
"When I arrived at Bennington College at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, graduating from UWC Changshu in a limbo between four
countries, time zones, and the rigor of the international baccalaureate, I was grateful and grieving the expectations of a different experience. I carried with me questions like, 'How can we sustain community in moments of rupture, when distance and isolation scatter us?' Having felt the weight of this during the pandemic, I entered college determined to explore what makes a strong and intentional community.
"At Bennington, I quickly became involved in student-led initiatives that sought to care for students and strengthen connection. I joined the Restorative Justice group, leading community circles and hosting dinners with homemade Peruvian food. I worked on a formal proposal to improve the international student experience, worked at the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office, and joined a group that created opportunities for dialogue and expression through mural painting, dance parties, and researching how communication works on campus while providing opportunities for people to come together and discuss different weekly topics. At the same time, I volunteered in the Peruvian national committee and learned different approaches to event organizing among Peruvian alumni. These efforts taught me that communities are not just groups sharing space, but living networks sustained by active members who create spaces for connection.
"Over my four years at Bennington, this question of how to create and sustain community has become both my academic inquiry and daily practice. From drafting policy proposals to organizing small gatherings, I have learned that building community requires imagination, persistence, and care. The campus has transformed during my time here, and I am grateful to have been able to contribute to spaces where students and staff can find belonging. In many ways, I lived a different UWC experience, and sometimes I feel I keep living it today in new and evolving forms."