Peace Corps Week: March 1-5, 2010 – What’s in it for You?
Peace Corps Send-Off Party Thursday, March 4, 2010 / 6-9 p.m. On-Wisconsin Room, Red Gym
All Peace Corps applicants, families of volunteers currently serving, and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers are invited to this event! RSVP by February 26 with Carrie Teiken at (312) 353-1126 or cteiken@peacecorps.gov. Meet like-minded people, make new friends, mingle, and ask questions!
Other Peace Corps Week Events Multicultural Fair Monday, March 1, 2010 / 5-8 p.m. Great Hall, Memorial Union General Information Session Tuesday, March 2, 2010 / 6- 7 p.m. Media Room, Red Gym Application Writing Workshop Wednesday, March 3, 2010 / 5:30 p.m. 6167 Helen C. White Hall Information Table Wednesday, March 3, 2010 / 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Rathskeller, Memorial Union Education Students – General Information Meeting Thursday, March 4, 2010 / 1 p.m – 2 p.m. 260 Bascom HallMore about the Peace Corps at UW–Madison Since Peace Corps was founded in 1961, 2,906 University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni have served in Peace Corps, making it the No. 2 all-time producer of Peace Corps volunteers, following University of California, Berkeley For the tenth year in a row, UW–Madison has placed on the Peace Corps’ top 10 list of large universities nationwide producing Peace Corps volunteers. With 77 alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers, UW–Madison is at No. 7 in this year’s rankings. UW–Madison has made the Peace Corps’ Top Schools list since the ranking system began in 2001.
UW–Madison offers Peace Corps Master’s International programs in many departments where students can combine Peace Corps service with graduate studies for credit. Peace Corps also works with Division of International Studies to host an on-campus recruiter who provides information about the Peace Corps and shares his personal experience as a volunteer with students. John Sheffy, a UW–Madison graduate student who served in Togo, West Africa is the current Peace Corps representative and has recently moved to room 329 Ingraham Hall. He can be reached at 608-262-1121 or at peacecorps@international.wisc.edu. “For nearly 50 years, enthusiastic college alumni have contributed to the success of Peace Corps programs and our mission to promote world peace and friendship in host communities around the world,” Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams, who earned his MBA from UW–Madison, has said. “Peace Corps service is a life changing leadership opportunity and a great career foundation in almost every field, ranging from international development, education, public health, engineering, agriculture, and law, to name a few. I am proud of our historic relationship with over 3,000 colleges and universities in the United States and look forward to recruiting and training the next generation of Peace Corps volunteers.” For more information: Visit the Peace Corps at UW–Madison website Contact John Sheffy: 329 Ingraham Hall, 608-262-1121, peacecorps@international.wisc.edu Read About a Current UW–Madison Peace Corps Volunteer:Article Excerpt: “I chose to join the Peace Corps because it afforded an opportunity to integrate into the community of my work,” he says. But he discovered that the Peace Corps emphasis on assimilating by adopting the local cultural norms, such as dress and behavior, isn’t always well-received.
“After a few months in the village, people pointed out my culturally appropriate clothing and mannerisms, questioning my authenticity,” he says. “People didn’t want to see a replica of themselves; they wanted to see my culture. They didn’t want me to mindlessly agree with everything they say and believe; they wanted discussion and questions.”