The University recently tied for 10th place on the Peace Corps’ annual list of Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities for small colleges and universities. This is a 13-spot increase, as the University ranked 23rd in 2013.

Also tied for 10th place was the University of Mary Washington, Kenyon College, and Knox College. The University currently has 13 undergraduate alumni volunteers in the Peace Corps. While the University was ranked lower in past years, in 2013, 14 alumni volunteered with the Peace Corps. In total, 269 University students have served in the Peace Corps.

Alumni currently serving in the Peace Corps work in a variety of industries, including agriculture, education, and healthcare. Volunteers work in countries throughout the world, in diverse locations such as the Dominican Republic, Liberia, and Malawi.

“When I was a sophomore at Bucknell, I participated in the Bucknell Brigade, a service-learning trip to Nicaragua. Although I knew that I wanted volunteer service to be an important part of my life before this trip, the Brigade provided a great introduction to international development work, and I knew that it was something I wanted to continue,” said John Trimmer ’10.

Trimmer, who enrolled in the University of South Florida’s Peace Corps Masters International program after graduating, now works in Uganda.

“In Kalisizo, the small town where I am placed in Uganda, I work with a small organization called Brick by Brick. This organization’s main focus is on improving the educational environment in local primary schools,” Trimmer said.

Many Peace Corps volunteers coming from the University have participated in community service on campus through the Office of Civic Engagement. After working in the Peace Corps, alumni have garnered success in the business world while still participating in their communities.