The University of Wisconsin-Madison has been ranked number one this year in Peace Corps recruits, with 90 Badger alums serving over seas.
Acting Peace Corps director Carrie Hessler-Radelet announced this years rankings in a press conference with Chancellor Rebecca Blank on campus Tuesday morning.
“We here at the university are very proud of the long and deep ties between the Peace Corps and UW-Madison reflected in the number of UW alumnae who have served and in the number of returned peace corps volunteers who have come back and built careers here,” Blank said.
Hessler-Radelet said the Peace Corps ranks schools each year based on the size of the school and the number of recruits.
She added UW had the top spot when the Corps began doing rankings in 2001, and kept that spot until 2006. She said the Corps is very proud of the university’s return to number one.
“I know you’ve been working really hard, and now you are successful,” Hessler-Radelet said. “And we’re so thrilled, so go Badgers.”
She also pointed out that in addition to claiming the top spot this year, UW is amongst the highest in total alumnae volunteers with the Corps. Since the founding of the Peace Corps in 1961, 3,112 UW alumnae have served abroad.
Other top-ranked schools included the University of Washington and the University of Florida.
Graduating college students interested in the Peace Corps are encouraged to apply by March 1. An information session will be held Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Red Gym.
