Best Supporting Actress Lupita Nyong’o celebrated the success of her deeply moving and evocative portrayal of an abused slave in pre-Civil War America by walking away with a coveted Oscar for her role in 12 Years a Slave.
In her acceptance speech, she acknowledged her training in Theatre Arts at Yale University; she was accepted to Yale as a graduate student following studies at Hampshire College. Her successful completion of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme at St. Mary’s School in Nairobi, Kenya, was foundational to her academic success.
A member of the IB Class of 2000-01, Lupita studied Theatre Arts as one of her elective subjects, according to staff at St. Mary’s School. A statement from the school announced that “[Lupita] has made us IB Educators proud” and included the hope that more parents would in the future encourage their children to pursue their creative interests and talents in elective subjects like Theatre arts, Visual Arts, Film and Music.
“Lupita Nyong’o demonstrates where an IB education can take students ,” said Adrian Kearney, IB Director for Africa, Europe and the Middle East. “Lupita is representative of the hundreds of thousands of IB graduates who make significant contributions worldwide, in an array of industries, occupations and professions. IB graduates reflect the attributes of the IB learner profile, often exhibiting a blend of empathy, compassion and respect for others, along with a sense of balance, a collaborative spirit, an ability for reflection, personal knowledge and integrity.” Kearney adds, “We are proud that Lupita is an IB alumnus. Her focus and accomplished performance are completely in tune with her success as an IB student.”
Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate (IB) is a not-for profit foundation, which offers four high quality and challenging education programmes for a worldwide community of schools. For 45 years, IB programmes have gained a reputation for rigour and high academic standards, for preparing students for life in a globalized 21st century, and for helping to develop citizens who will create a better, more peaceful world. Currently, more than one million IB students attend more than 3,700 schools in 147 countries.
