University rises on Peace Corps annual rankings

Virginia Tech has risen on the Peace Corps' Top 25 list of large schools producing Peace Corps Volunteers.

With 43 alumni currently serving as Peace Corps Volunteers, Virginia Tech is No. 24 in the rankings. Since the Peace Corps’ inception, 535 alumni of Virginia Tech have served as Peace Corps Volunteers across the globe.

“The Peace Corps relies heavily on the graduates of contributing schools from across the country.

Their education and experiences add to the diversity of the Peace Corps and its success in the host countries,” said Director Ron Tschetter. “Currently, there are over 3,000 colleges and universities with alumni serving as Peace Corps Volunteers in 76 countries worldwide.”

Schools are ranked according to the size of the student population. Virginia Tech is ranked in the large-school category with more than 15,000 undergraduate students.

The Peace Corps is celebrating 50 years of a legacy to service at home and abroad. Since 1961, more than 195,000 Peace Corps volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where volunteers have served. Applications to serve in the Peace Corps have increased 16 percent this past year, the largest boost in the last five years. There are currently more than 7,500 volunteers abroad. The commitment to the Peace Corps is 27 months of service; volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Learn more about Peace Corps recruitment at Virginia Tech.

To find out more about how you too can make a difference in other people’s lives, contact Peace Corps’ on-campus recruiter and returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Alex Frane. Frane (mailto:peacecor@vt.edu) can be reached directly at (540) 231-4266.

Written by Krystyne Hayes.