May 7, 1999
Contact: Sean J. Kearns, (707) 826-5102 [email protected]
Note to editors and news directors: A media availability with Mark Gearan is scheduled for 1:50 p.m., Friday, May 14, at a campus site to be determined. There are several other opportunities for individual reporters to meet with Gearan. For details, call Sean Kearns at (707) 826-5102.
PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR TO VISIT HUMBOLDT STATE
Gearan to honor university's legacy of stellar service, encourage Class of '99
ARCATA, Calif. -- Peace Corps Director Mark D. Gearan will visit Humboldt State University next weekend to deliver a commencement address and to honor the university's unparalleled legacy of service to the agency. Meanwhile, within the next group of volunteers preparing to ship overseas is the 600th recruit from Humboldt.
On Saturday, May 15, at 8:30 a.m., Gearan will address graduates at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Commencement.
Historically, Humboldt State, per capita, has been at or near the top of the country's universities serving as sources of Peace Corps volunteers. This year's contingent includes 49 nominees. Some have already received their assignments, such as Mark Rayner, to practice forestry in the Ukraine; Karen deGroot, to foster agriculture in El Salvador; Joellen Peterson, to teach English in Romania; Leishara Ward, to aid urban and regional planning in Kenya; and Matt Hickey, to enhance water resource engineering in Zambia.
At a reception Friday night, May 14, Gearan will honor the current nominees and returned Peace Corps volunteers now living on the North Coast. He will also give special recognition to the university's Career Center for its 20 years of strong support to the agency's recruiting efforts.
Earlier Friday, he will tour and honor two distinguished student-run programs: Youth Educational Services (YES) and the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT). According to Peace Corps Campus Representative Craig Benson, YES and CCAT are critical in providing the service opportunities that make Humboldt students exceptionally strong candidates for the Peace Corps.
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