Matthew Mikrut '17 is surrounded by his young charges. (Photo provided by Peace Corps)
Boston College is among the top volunteer-producing colleges and universities for the Peace Corps in 2019, according to the agency. Boston College is ranked #18 among medium-size schools, with 19 BC alumni currently volunteering in countries around the world.
BC has ranked among the top 25 medium-size schools (defined as having between 5,000 and 15,000 undergraduates) every year for the past decade. Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, more than 800 BC alumni have served abroad as volunteers.
“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.”
“My experiences at BC led me to see my role in the world as someone who must use my education to understand the world through the experiences of others and to increase their opportunities,” said Matthew Mikrut '17, who graduated with a double major in international studies and economics and is currently serving as a youth in development volunteer in Thailand. “BC helped me recognize this as a definition of service.”
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, the 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. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps, more than 235,000 Americans have served in 141 countries worldwide.
University Communications | July 2019