For the second consecutive year, Florida State University was ranked No. 25 among large-size schools on the Peace Corps’ 2018 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges & Universities list.
The state of Florida ranked third on the Peace Corps’ 2017 Top Volunteer-Producing States list, rising from the No. 8 spot in 2011. There are 355 volunteers from the Sunshine State currently serving worldwide; 38 are FSU graduates.
The Peace Corps annually ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities 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 Sheila Crowley, acting Peace Corps director. “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.”
Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 230,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide. More than 3,000 alumni from colleges and universities across the nation have served in the Peace Corps. A total of 8,237 Floridians and 856 FSU alumni have served since the agency was founded.
Florida State is a Peace Corps University Program partner, offering the Paul D. Coverdell Graduate Fellowship program through the College of Social Work, which provides financial assistance to returning Peace Corps volunteers.
FSU alumna Amanda Moses, a native of Boca Raton, Florida is currently serving as an English teacher in the Kyrgyz Republic.
“I always had an interest in international affairs and human rights,” Moses said. “At FSU, I was able to meet like-minded peers and participate in clubs and activities that expanded my view of the world. I was encouraged by my professors and colleagues, and their support really helped to put me on the right path toward international service.”
View the complete 2018 rankings of the top 25 schools here.
For more information, visit peacecorps.gov.
The Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad on behalf of the United States to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy.