This year, UC Santa Cruz is once again being recognized for its alumni’s high rate of participation in the Peace Corps, the hands-on leadership experience program that offers volunteers the opportunity to travel to the farthest corners of the world and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
For the 12th straight year, UCSC has placed within the top 25 in Peace Corps’ ranking of large universities. This year, UCSC ranked number19 among large schools, with 41 alumni currently volunteering worldwide.
Since the first days of the Peace Corps, 787 alumni from UCSC have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers.
For the second year in a row, UCSC has tied the University of California, Davis. In total, six University of California system campuses are ranked on the list of top 25 large universities this year.
"UCSC has consistently ranked among top schools producing volunteers who answer the call to serve the Peace Corps mission of world peace and friendship,” said Janet Allen, Peace Corps West Coast Regional Manager. “We applaud and thank UC Santa Cruz for its ongoing commitment to develop volunteers committed to working in solidarity with host country communities to make a difference and enrich the lives of host community members and their own."
The Peace Corps has six recruitment regions across the United States that work closely with prospective volunteers to ensure that all Americans who want to serve have the opportunity to do so. The West Coast Region serves UCSC, and Peace Corps recruiters are based throughout the area.
The Peace Corps ranks the top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body.
