The Peace Corps announced this week that the University of Redlands ranked No. 4 among small schools on the agency’s list of 2019 top volunteer-producing colleges and universities. There are 15 Bulldogs currently volunteering worldwide.
In 2019, U of R held strong at its number four position from last year. It is among five schools in California on the list 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.”
Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, more than 280 alumni from Redlands have served abroad as volunteers. In 2018, California ranked No. 1 among states with the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers and a total of 31,723 Californians have served in the Peace Corps since the agency’s founding in 1961.
“Given the number of hours our students devote to community development overseas, in their home communities, and here in Redlands, it stands to reason that they would continue to distinguish themselves in this way,” said Steve Wuhs, assistant provost for internationalization and interim director of U of R’s study away program. “We’re very proud of this repeat achievement and how it reflects on global learning and service at the University of Redlands.”
“Learning through service is a huge part of the campus culture at University of Redlands; it’s actually part of the curriculum,” said Sarah Esquivel, an environment volunteer in the Philippines who graduated from U of R in 2015. “All students participate in a community service activity course, and wherever that course takes you it’s an eye-opening experience on the importance of community service. U of R encourages students to build stronger communities and connecting with people through service, and that aligns with the Peace Corps.”
The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body.