Students from DU really care about the world around them. No, really.

In a study released late last month, DU was ranked No. 4 on a list of small colleges and universities whose students joined the Peace Corps after graduation. DU currently has 28 alumni serving with the organization.

The Peace Corps unofficially began in 1960 when then-Senator John F. Kennedy challenged University of Michigan students to serve the cause of peace by working and living in developing countries.

From that original group of Michigan students, a government agency was started to spread peace and friendship to developing countries all over the world.

Since the Peace Core was officially created in March of 1961, more than 170,000 volunteers have worked in 137 host countries on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation. In more than four decades, 184 DU alumni have served as volunteers in 87 countries.

Glenn Fee, director of the DU’s Community Action Program, is pleased, but not surprised by the ranking, given DU’s commitment to community service and student interest in service projects.

“The University of Denver, through the Community Action Program, challenges our students to address issues of global justice and equality, which exposes them to issues they work with as Peace Corps volunteers,” Fee says.

“In the past few years, our students have participated in alternative spring break and international service-learning projects in much higher numbers. We’re finding that students who participate in programs such as these tend to search out longer-term opportunities upon graduation.”

The Peace Corps promotes world peace and friendship between countries and nations through their three goals. Their goals include helping the people of interested countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained workers, helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served and helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

“The diversity of the alumni serving as volunteers – coming from all backgrounds and regions of the country – has helped the Peace Corps represent the true face of America,” Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez says.

“We are pleased that so many graduates have taken the journey to make the world a better place for all of us to share.”

While the majority of Peace Corps volunteer work focuses on educational programs, other work includes youth outreach and community development, health and HIV/AIDS, agriculture and environment, business development and information technology.

Volunteers can live with a host family, in their own home, or a number of other housing situations, and are provided with a living allowance so that they can live in a manner similar to the local people. The Peace Corps also provides complete medical and dental care and covers the cost of transportation to and from the volunteer’s country of service.

Last year, DU didn’t rank at all, because it was categorized as a medium-size school. This year, DU was changed to a small-size school, which allowed it to come in fourth.

Anyone wishing to be a Peace Corps volunteer needs to be at least 18 years of age (there is no upper age requirement) and a legal U.S. resident. Other requirements to join include having at least a high school degree or GED. While speaking a foreign language is not a requirement, the ability to speak French or Spanish can help applicants qualify for assignments in certain regions.

When volunteers return from their required 27 months of service, they recieve just over $6,000 to assist in the transition into life back home. The money can be used by the volunteers in whatever way they want: for travel, a vacation, making a move, or securing housing.

According to the Peace Corps Web site, volunteers have the possibility of deferring repayment on student loans under several federal programs such as Stafford (formerly known as guaranteed student loans), Perkins, direct, and consolidation loans.

Volunteers with Perkins loans are eligible for a 15 percent cancellation of their outstanding balance for each year of Peace Corps service. Because the rules that authorize deferrment are complicated and subject to change.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but it is recommended that volunteers send in their applications 9-12 months before they will be ready to serve.

The Denver Peace Corps office is located at 1999 Broadway (20th & Broadway) Suite 2205.

The Recruitment Coordinator, Jonathan Bringewatt can be contacted by phone at 303.844.7018 or by email at jbringewatt@peacecorps.gov

The Peace Corps local office will also have a table at the upcoming Winter Career Fair, Feb. 23.

For more information about DU’s Community Action Program, visit the Web site at www.du.edu/cap. Glenn Fee can be contacted by phone at 303.871.4281 or by email at gfee@du.edu