Newswise — Binghamton University, State University of New York, has entered the Peace Corps' top 25 list of major volunteer-producing colleges and universities in the nation. Ranked among the top medium-sized schools, Binghamton University also had more alumni serving in the Peace Corps than any other SUNY campus.
"I am proud that our alumni have been recognized for their participation in the Peace Corps," says Lois B. DeFleur, president of Binghamton University. "While our students are regularly recognized for their volunteer and humanitarian efforts, I am very pleased that this commitment to service extends for many of them after they graduate."
Since the Peace Corps' inception in 1961, over 200 Binghamton University alumni have joined its ranks. They have served in countries around the world, with destinations including Costa Rica, Uganda, Albania, Thailand and the Philippines. Service projects have ranged from addressing water quality issues, and teaching math and English, to coordinating workshops on general sanitation practices and HIV/AIDS prevention, and launching home gardening projects.
"The Peace Corps provides a unique opportunity for graduates to use their education and skills, and apply them in the real world," said Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter. "I am proud that there are 1,192 institutions of higher learning currently represented by Peace Corps Volunteers serving in 74 countries overseas. These institutions can be proud of the contributions that their graduates are making in the lives of others around the globe."
Other schools that made the Peace Corps rankings for medium-sized schools include the University of Virginia; the College of William and Mary; Brown University; Yale University; and the University of Notre Dame.
"Binghamton University has had a long association with the Peace Corps," said DeFleur. "Our focus on global awareness has encouraged students to identify some of world's most pressing needs and get involved. Now more than ever, these efforts are vital to promoting a better understanding among people across the globe, and we are very pleased that Binghamton has been recognized for its contribution to this important mission." To view the entire Top Peace Corps Universities and Colleges 2008 list, see http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.mediares.statsfacts
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