April 23, 2001

Middlebury ranks first on Peace

Corps’ annual list of volunteer-producing small

colleges

MIDDLEBURY, Vt.—In a letter to

Middlebury College President John M. McCardell, Jr., Acting Peace

Corps Director Charles R. Baquet announced that Middlebury ranks

first on an annual list of all small colleges and universities

producing Peace Corps volunteers. The Peace Corps defines small

colleges and universities as those schools with less than 5,000

undergraduates. In the Peace Corps’ 40-year history, 364

Middlebury alumni have joined its worldwide effort. There are 32

Middlebury alumni currently serving in the Peace Corps.

“Your institution has made a

tremendous contribution to this agency’s global legacy of public

service,” Baquet wrote in his letter to McCardell.

“Many students today are solidly

dedicated to service and deeply value the unique experience Peace

Corps offers,” Baquet said in a news release issued by the Peace

Corps. “And through their volunteer work overseas, Americans

throughout this country are able to learn more about the world in

this era of globalization.”

Established in 1961 by President John

F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps has sent over 161,000 trained volunteers

to 134 countries. In 2001, 7,300 volunteers and trainees—the

highest level in 26 years—are serving in 78 countries around the

world by working to help fight hunger, bring clean water to

communities, teach children, help start new small businesses, and

stop the spread of AIDS. During its 40th anniversary year,

the Peace Corps hopes to boost the number of volunteers by 25

percent.

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