2008 Woodie Awards
Students promote peace
University ranks 4th for alumni serving in Peace Corps
Claire Stencel
Issue date: 2/8/05 Section: Features
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Students from DU really care about the world around them. No, really.
In a study released late last month, DU was ranked No. 4 on a list of small colleges and universities whose students joined the Peace Corps after graduation. DU currently has 28 alumni serving with the organization.
The Peace Corps unofficially began in 1960 when then-Senator John F. Kennedy challenged University of Michigan students to serve the cause of peace by working and living in developing countries.
From that original group of Michigan students, a government agency was started to spread peace and friendship to developing countries all over the world.
Since the Peace Core was officially created in March of 1961, more than 170,000 volunteers have worked in 137 host countries on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation. In more than four decades, 184 DU alumni have served as volunteers in 87 countries.
Glenn Fee, director of the DU's Community Action Program, is pleased, but not surprised by the ranking, given DU's commitment to community service and student interest in service projects.
"The University of Denver, through the Community Action Program, challenges our students to address issues of global justice and equality, which exposes them to issues they work with as Peace Corps volunteers," Fee says.
"In the past few years, our students have participated in alternative spring break and international service-learning projects in much higher numbers. We're finding that students who participate in programs such as these tend to search out longer-term opportunities upon graduation."
The Peace Corps promotes world peace and friendship between countries and nations through their three goals. Their goals include helping the people of interested countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained workers, helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served and helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
In a study released late last month, DU was ranked No. 4 on a list of small colleges and universities whose students joined the Peace Corps after graduation. DU currently has 28 alumni serving with the organization.
The Peace Corps unofficially began in 1960 when then-Senator John F. Kennedy challenged University of Michigan students to serve the cause of peace by working and living in developing countries.
From that original group of Michigan students, a government agency was started to spread peace and friendship to developing countries all over the world.
Since the Peace Core was officially created in March of 1961, more than 170,000 volunteers have worked in 137 host countries on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation. In more than four decades, 184 DU alumni have served as volunteers in 87 countries.
Glenn Fee, director of the DU's Community Action Program, is pleased, but not surprised by the ranking, given DU's commitment to community service and student interest in service projects.
"The University of Denver, through the Community Action Program, challenges our students to address issues of global justice and equality, which exposes them to issues they work with as Peace Corps volunteers," Fee says.
"In the past few years, our students have participated in alternative spring break and international service-learning projects in much higher numbers. We're finding that students who participate in programs such as these tend to search out longer-term opportunities upon graduation."
The Peace Corps promotes world peace and friendship between countries and nations through their three goals. Their goals include helping the people of interested countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained workers, helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served and helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.