WWU panel discussion March 3 celebrates Peace Corps' 50th anniversary

Western Peace Corps volunteers to share stories of service overseas

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps, Western Washington University faculty and staff who served as Peace Corps volunteers will share stories of their service in a special panel discussion from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 3 in Viking Union Room 552 on campus. The event is open to the public.

To honor Western’s many contributions to the Peace Corps, Melanie Forthun from the Peace Corps will open the event by presenting a special recognition award to WWU President Bruce Shepard.

The panel will include seven faculty and staff members: Chuck Anholt, Department of Economics; Ed Love, Finance and Marketing; Brooke Love, Huxley College of the Environment; Kathy Patrick, Huxley College; Fred Rhoades, Biology Department; Beth Parker, Center for Service Learning; and Susan Anderson, Career Services Center. This presentation will explore a great diversity of Peace Corps experiences in sectors including education, business advising, agriculture, and natural resource management in countries across the globe.

This event also celebrates the special relationship between Western and the Peace Corps. For many years, Western has consistently been ranked as a Top College with the Peace Corps. This year it rose to number three nationally on the Peace Corps’ 2011 rankings of mid-sized colleges and universities (between 5,001 and 15,000 undergraduates).

There are currently 60 Western undergraduate alumni serving as Peace Corps volunteers. With an additional 22 WWU alumni serving this year compared to last year (38 in 2010), WWU boasts the biggest increase in volunteers serving among all universities in the Northwest.

Since the organization's creation in 1961, 813 WWU alumni have served as Peace Corps volunteers.

The first week of March is observed as Peace Corps Week, and communities across the nation are celebrating the 50th anniversary with events that honor past Peace Corps achievements and inspire the next generation of volunteers through education and engagement.

About the Peace Corps: President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961, by executive order. Throughout 2011, the Peace Corps is commemorating 50 years of promoting peace and friendship around the world. Historically, more than 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps to promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 host countries. Today, 8,655 volunteers are working with local communities in 77 host countries. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.