February 18, 2016
University of Washington produces the most Peace Corps volunteers for 2nd consecutive year
For the second year in a row, the University of Washington produced the most Peace Corps volunteers among large universities with 72 Huskies currently serving around the world. The UW is also ranked No. 4 among graduate schools with 16 alumni currently volunteering.
“Community engagement – here and across the globe – is part of what makes a UW student’s experience the best it can be. One way our students give back to the community is by volunteering for the Peace Corps,” said Gerald J. Baldasty, interim provost and executive vice president. “We are enormously proud of our students’ commitment to learning and making the world a better place.”
Since the first days of the Peace Corps, 2,937 Huskies have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers, placing the UW third on the list of all-time volunteer-producing schools.
“The Peace Corps is a unique opportunity for college graduates to put their education into practice and become agents of change in communities around the world,” said Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet. “Today’s graduates understand the importance of intercultural understanding and are raising their hands in record numbers to take on the challenge of international service.”
Julie Feng, who graduated from the UW with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2013, is now an education volunteer in Morocco.
“My UW experience prepared me for my service in ways I couldn’t have predicted,” Feng said. “There were the obvious connections – my English degree preparing me to teach English, my study abroad program preparing me for cross-cultural exchange, and my volunteer hours through the Pipeline Project and the UW Women’s Center preparing me for youth development projects. But intangible things like resourcefulness, flexibility and a willingness to pursue anything – these are skills I gained at UW that I use every single moment I’m in Morocco!”
Gonzaga University and the University of Puget Sound share the title of No. 1 among small schools, each sending 18 alumni to serve overseas.
View the complete 2016 rankings of the top volunteer-producing schools, including several others in Washington, here.
Tag(s): Peace Corps • Rankings
