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ANNUAL
RANKING: OHIO UNIVERSITY 22ND IN PRODUCING PEACE CORPS
VOLUNTEERS
Contact:
Brian Francisco, (740) 593-0290
ATHENS,
Ohio -- Ohio University is ranked 22nd in the nation in the
annual listing of universities that produce the most
graduates who go on to serve in the Peace Corps.
The Peace
Corps ranking is based on the 44 graduates of Ohio
University currently serving in the corps. Topping the list
is University of Wisconsin with 117 graduates in the corps
followed by the University of Colorado with 91.
Eighty
percent of Peace Corps volunteers have graduated in the last
three years and serve in 78 underdeveloped nations
worldwide, including Latin America, Africa, Asia and Eastern
Europe, according to Brendan Daly, a spokesman for the
Corps.
"Ohio
University has emphasized international education and
international interests for many years," Ohio University
President Robert Glidden. "The Peace Corps offers college
graduates an educational opportunity of a lifetime while
performing a valuable service. It is gratifying to see so
many of our graduates are volunteering to help the people of
developing countries, particularly at a time when there are
many lucrative jobs available in the booming U.S. economy."
Ohio
University Peace Corps Coordinator Brian Francisco recruits
students at information sessions in Alden Library, class
talks, career fairs and through professors advising
students.
"The
students come from all different fields," Francisco said.
"Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union are quite
popular destinations right now."
Many of
those who serve in the Peace Corps return to the United
States with a new perspective, according to Associate
Provost for International Programs Josep Rota.
"The Peace
Corps does two very important things," Rota said. "It sends
graduates to a developing country and allows them to learn
an incredible amount of new skills and knowledge that can
transform their life. Many returning Peace Corps volunteers
also are inspired to go on to graduate school, where they
tend to be some of the better graduate students."
Volunteers
sign on for two-year stints, receiving an average of $200 a
month for living expenses. An additional $225 is deposited
in a bank account for use after the volunteer leaves the
corps, Daly said. Interest in the corps has increased over
the last few years, and Daly said he expects the number of
volunteers to increase from 7,000 to 10,000.
"It is
great we are getting this kind of interest when the economy
is doing so well," Daly said. "It belies the myth of
Generation X being selfish. People don't join the Peace
Corps for money."
President
John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps in 1961.
Ninety-seven percent of those who serve have completed
undergraduate degrees and 13 percent have completed graduate
degrees.
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