Whitman Outperforms Peers in Peace Corps Volunteers
Whitman College has again ranked ahead of the pack for the Peace Corps' list of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities. With nine alumni currently serving in countries around the world, Whitman is No. 23 among small schools on the agency's 2019 roster. It has appeared on the list for the last three years, and is one of nine top schools in Washington this year.
"We have seen time and again that the colleges and universities that produce the most Peace Corps volunteers focus on cultivating global citizens in addition to promoting scholarship," said Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen. "I am proud that so many graduates of these esteemed institutions leverage their educations to make the world a better place. They bring critical skills to communities around the world and gain hands-on, life-changing experience along the way."
The Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad on behalf of the United States to work with communities to create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, the environment and youth development.
Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 330 Whitties have volunteered. In 2018, Washington ranked No. 8 among states with the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers, and a total of 9,968 Washingtonians have served since 1961.
"As a small liberal arts school, Whitman attracts many students who are broad-minded, value experiential learning and hope to truly make a positive impact in the world," said John Whiting '13, a geology and environmental studies major who served as an agriculture volunteer in Tanzania after graduation. "Students take advantage of many opportunities to get out of the classroom to learn from the local Walla Walla community, the wild and urban areas of the Pacific Northwest, and many international locations."