Denison University has once again earned a spot on Peace Corps’ annual Top Volunteer-Producing Schools list. With nine volunteers currently in service, the college ranks No. 14 among small colleges and universities.
For seven years, the college has made the annual list, with its last appearance being in 2014 at No. 14. Since the agency was created in 1961, 270 Denison alums have served overseas.
“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,” Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “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.”
Denison University Dean of Career Preparation, Richard Berman noted, “Denison’s history of graduates serving in the Peace Corps is yet another affirmation of the values the college fosters. Work, service, and social impact all intersect in ways that help others have a better chance at finding meaning, developing purpose, and advancing the quality of life. We find this to be true for so many of our recent graduates and other alumni.”
One Denison graduate currently making a difference abroad is Bridget McDevitt, 23, who has been serving in Ethiopia as an education volunteer since July 2014. A native of Grosse Pointe, Mich., McDevitt teaches English to high school students in her community. In addition, she has started an English club, a writing class and empowerment camps for youth in her village.
Her father, who served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Micronesia, encouraged her to consider service, and her experiences at Denison fostered a passion for international work.
“As a student at Denison, one of the greatest decisions I made was to leave for a semester to study abroad in Ecuador,” the May 2014 graduate said. “It opened my eyes to an international perspective, and Denison encouraged us to continue to share our experiences long after we returned to campus.”
Three other Ohio colleges earned recognition. Among large schools, The Ohio State University ranks No. 10 with 42 volunteers currently serving. Within the small school category, Oberlin College also comes in at No. 14 with nine volunteers, while The College of Wooster ranks No. 23 with eight volunteers currently in service.
The Peace Corps sends the best and brightest Americans abroad on behalf of the United States to address the most pressing needs of people around the world. Volunteers work with their community members at the grassroots level to develop sustainable solutions to challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their service, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 220,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide.