DENVER - The University of Colorado at Boulder has claimed the No. 2 spot among all U.S. colleges and universities for producing the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers. There currently are 104 CU-Boulder graduates making a difference in the lives of individuals and communities throughout the world as Peace Corps volunteers.
Every year, the Peace Corps recognizes the college and university alumni who are working to advance the mission of the Peace Corps by publishing the "Top Producing Colleges and Universities" list.
"I am delighted to hear that so many CU-Boulder grads are continuing our campus's long tradition of volunteerism and service to others," said Interim Chancellor Phil DiStefano. "We place a high priority on service as well as the concept of service learning, which integrates community service with the academic life of the campus. I am pleased that our students are setting such a high standard for civic responsibility."
According to Ann Conway, manager of the Peace Corps regional office in Denver, the Peace Corps is not surprised by the notable contribution CU-Boulder continues to make internationally. "The students at CU-Boulder are known for being socially conscious and altruistic as well as possessing a love of the outdoors and a strong sense of adventure," said Conway. "These attributes represent much of what we look for in Peace Corps volunteers."
Although it is not a requirement for service, the majority of volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps over the past 43 years have been college graduates. Currently, 97 percent of volunteers have at least an undergraduate degree, with 13 percent of those also possessing a graduate level degree. While the average age of current Peace Corps volunteers from CU-Boulder is 27, the oldest CU-Boulder alum currently serving overseas is 64.
"The diversity of alumni serving as volunteers - coming from all ages, backgrounds and regions of the country - has helped the Peace Corps represent the true face of America," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. "We are pleased that so many graduates have taken the journey to make the world a better place for all of us to share. "
For over a decade, the University of Wisconsin at Madison has been the overall top producer nationwide. This year is no different, as UW-Madison keeps their No. 1 title with 129 volunteers serving in the field.
Among the all-time top producing schools, the University of California at Berkeley continues to be No. 1 - the only school to have produced more than 3,000 volunteers since the Peace Corps' inception in 1961.
Other Colorado colleges and universities appearing on the list include Colorado State University, which ranks No. 10 among large schools. The University of Denver and Colorado College both appear on the list of small colleges and universities, securing the No. 4 and No. 16 ranks respectively.
Since 1961, more than 178,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, information technology, business development, the environment and agriculture. Approximately 5,755 of these have been from Colorado.
To view the entire 2005 "Top Producing Colleges and Universities" list, please go to . For more information about the Peace Corps or to apply to be a volunteer, visit .
For information about ongoing Peace Corps activities on the CU-Boulder campus, please contact Paula Pant at (303) 492-8454.