UW-Madison regains status as top producer of Peace Corps volunteers

[Scuba]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/uw-madison-regains-status-as-top-producer-of-peace-corp-volunteers-b99202613z1-244793611.html

The University of Wisconsin-Madison now leads the nation as the top producer of Peace Corps volunteers with 90 alumni currently serving in 42 countries, the Peace Corps plans to announce Tuesday in Madison.

Peace Corps Acting Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet, who grew up in Appleton, will be on campus Tuesday morning to celebrate the Wisconsin flagship's new No. 1 ranking and longtime support of the Peace Corps.

UW-Madison is historically the second-highest producer of Peace Corps volunteers in the country, with a total of 3,112 alumni who have served. The University of California-Berkeley holds the top all-time spot, with a total of 3,576 volunteers since the Peace Corps' founding in 1961.

UW last held the No. 1 spot in the annual rankings from 2001 through 2006. Ohio State ranks fourth and Michigan ranks fifth in the new rankings.

Woo Hoo for the Big 10 Schools, and Cal-Berkeley.

[a kennedy]

1. Woohoo.......now that's something to be very, very proud of.

[TBF]

2. I was at UW in the late 80s -

and even during that me-me decade the lure of the Corps was strong. I think everyone knew someone who volunteered - I had a friend I worked with on campus who made the cut. I'm glad to hear the support continues.

[seveneyes]

3. In memorandum of the 296 fallen volunteers

http://fpcv.org/

Since the Peace Corps began in 1961, more than 200,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in 139 countries. Of these dedicated men and women, 296 have sacrificed not only their energies and time, but also their lives while pursuing the Peace Corps mission. They are remembered here on this site, so that all may honor and celebrate their lives and service.

[Scuba]

5. +1

[logosoco]

4. Very cool!

My son graduates this spring from Webster U. (outside of St. Louis) and in July heads to Tanzania for two years as a PCV.
My sister went to UW/ Madison in 1982 and is living there now, so it is a city my family is very familiar with.
I was thinking of starting a thread here at DU because I imagine there are some on here with PC experience that I would love to hear about.
We are going to miss my son very much but are also very excited about this amazing experience he will have.