Peace Corps Ranks SLU Second Among Small Schools
Peace Corps has announced that St. Lawrence University ranked No. 2 among small schools on the agency’s list of 2018 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities. This is the fourth consecutive year that St. Lawrence has ranked among the top 25 small schools.
With 15 alumni currently volunteering worldwide, St. Lawrence tied for the second spot after achieving No. 7 in 2017 and No. 14 in 2015 and 2016. Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, 272 alumni from St. Lawrence have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers.
“The St. Lawrence experience, both in the classroom and beyond it, aligns with the values and actions of those who take on these volunteer leadership roles in the global community,” said Ron Albertson, director of St. Lawrence University’s Career Services. “We’re proud of the number two ranking and especially of our graduates for their firm commitment to helping others as they enhance their understanding of the world through Peace Corps service.”
Kelly Burke ’17 joined the ranks of dedicated St. Lawrence alumni who have served abroad starting in July 2017, when she began serving as a secondary education science teacher in Guinea.
As a former member of St. Lawrence’s Habitat for Humanity, Burke’s participation in alternative spring break trips and local builds showed her the impact one person can have on the surrounding community. Her role as a tutor and teaching assistant at St. Lawrence has also prepared her for her teaching job in Guinea.
“I realized I really enjoy helping people and exploring problems or different concepts, which inspired me to volunteer with the Peace Corps. It has given me the confidence that I can make a positive impact while abroad,” said Burke, who graduated with a degree in chemistry. “I hope to provide opportunities to the students and teach them how to use science in their everyday lives and how important it can be in their futures.”
Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body.
“Peace Corps service is a profound expression of the idealism and civic engagement that colleges and universities across the country inspire in their alumni,” said Acting Peace Corps Director Sheila Crowley. “As Peace Corps Volunteers, recent college and university graduates foster capacity and self-reliance at the grassroots level, making an impact in communities around the world. When they return to the United States, they have new, highly sought-after skills and an enterprising spirit that further leverages their education and strengthens their communities back home.”
