The University of Colorado at Boulder today became the sixth university in the nation to surpass 2,000 in the number of graduates who have served as Peace Corps volunteers.
Since the organization was founded in 1961, a total of 2,052 CU-Boulder alumni have served as Peace Corps volunteers, said Charles "Chuck" Brooks, the Peace Corps' associate director of volunteer recruitment and selection in Washington, D.C. Brooks came to CU-Boulder for the announcement in the University Memorial Center.
"The Peace Corps enthusiastically congratulates the University of Colorado at Boulder for this monumental achievement in answering the call to service," Brooks said. "During the past 45 years, CU-Boulder alumni have made significant contributions in promoting hope and opportunity throughout the world."
"This recognition of our Peace Corps volunteers is a tribute to the strong sense of social consciousness and idealistic spirit of our students," said CU-Boulder Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson. "CU-Boulder students have a long tradition of serving others around the world in addition to their local communities."
The University of California, Berkeley tops the list of schools producing the greatest number of Peace Corps volunteers since 1961 with 3,282, followed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison with 2,764, the University of Washington with 2,436, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with 2,192 and Michigan State University with 2,057.
"We have great hopes and a strong indication that CU-Boulder will move on to the top five list of all-time top producing schools in 2008," said Jill Thiare, public affairs specialist at the Peace Corps regional recruitment office in Denver. "Because of CU-Boulder's consistently strong performance throughout the Peace Corps' 45-year history we will be thrilled, but not surprised, when that happens."
CU-Boulder currently ranks No. 3 among all U.S. colleges and universities in the number of its alumni now serving as Peace Corps volunteers with 100, Brooks announced. The only universities surpassing CU-Boulder's current number of Peace Corps volunteers are the University of Washington with 110 and the University of Wisconsin-Madison with 106.
Other Colorado colleges and universities in this year's rankings include Colorado State University in a tie for 12th place among large schools with 57 volunteers; Colorado College, which tied for seventh place among small schools with 21 volunteers; and the University of Denver, which tied for ninth place among small schools with 20 volunteers.
An information meeting for CU-Boulder students and community members who are interested in learning more about the Peace Corps will be held on Thursday, Jan. 25, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Eaton Humanities Building, room 150. The meeting is free and open to the public.
Interested individuals also can contact the CU-Boulder Peace Corps representative, Stephanie St. Clair, at (303) 492-8454 or peacecor@colorado.edu.
For Audra Caravas of Denver, the idea of joining the Peace Corps occurred during her first weekend as a freshman living in a CU-Boulder residence hall, when she attended an informational meeting. Now 25, the 2004 CU-Boulder graduate with a bachelor's degree in psychology will leave on Feb. 7 to serve in the Peace Corps as a youth development coordinator in El Salvador.
"I find that I'm happiest when I'm helping others and I want to experience happiness," she said.
A total of 7,749 Peace Corps volunteers currently serve in 73 countries, working in communities to help fight hunger and disease, provide clean water, educate children and help people launch new businesses. About 93 percent of current volunteers have a college degree and 12 percent have a graduate degree or have done graduate studies.
Since 1961, more than 187,000 Peace Corps volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where they have served. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.
For more information about the Jan. 25 CU-Boulder event, go to or call (800) 424-8580. The Peace Corps Web site at includes general information about service as well as an online application.