Peace Corps Honors Legacy of College Involvement Since Organization's Inception, 364 Middlebury Graduates Have Served

Author: Gale Berninghausen Staff Writer

On Saturday, Oct. 27 Middlebury College received two awards presented by James Arena-DeRosa, Peace Corps manager for the New England Regional Peace Corps Office.

The first award, accepted by Executive Director of Career Services Jaye Roseborough, recognized Middlebury as one of the top 10 small colleges participating in the Peace Corps.

President John McCardell then accepted the 2001 Peace Corps Award on behalf of the College. The Award honors the college with the largest number of Peace Corps volunteers.

The ceremony, held in Redfield Proctor, began with McCardell's welcome in which he spoke of Middlebury's involvement in the Peace Corps. He mentionned that 32 graduates of the College are currently serving.

Since its founding 40 years ago, the Peace Corps has welcomed 364 Middlebury graduates to its ranks. President McCardell commented that this reflected "the importance of global education offered here."

Arena-DeRosa followed with remarks about the Peace Corps' high esteem for Middlebury, praising the College's "commitment to global and foreign service." After the presentation of the awards, more than 25 alumni, who had returned for Homecoming festivities and the ceremony, introduced themselves and described their Peace Corps experiences.

The College has traditionally stressed the importance of global education through its emphasis on intensive language study, international studies on campus and abroad and the numerous cultural events offered throughout the year. Roseborough attributed the impressive number of Middlebury graduates who chose to join the Peace Corps and other international Not-For-Profit (NFP) organizations to the "support and focus from international studies [which] heightens students' level of international awareness and sophistication."

During the ceremony, McCardell addressed the Middlebury alumni who had served in the Peace Corps and encouraged others "to give something back, to make the world a better place. These people gave their time to serve the country and the world."



What is the Peace Corps?



Arena-DeRosa and Brendan O'Brien, a career counselor and resource coordinator in the Career Services Office who served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay, described the goals of the organization. They included developing transferable job skills, sharing an understanding of American culture with other countries and bringing back to the United States a better understanding of those places.

The Peace Corps serves as a cultural exchange aimed at dispelling stereotypes, facilitating participation between Peace Corps members and hosts, building of leadership abilities and striving to break the bonds of poverty through programs in health, environment, education, business and public policy.

O'Brien, who answered questions about his experience in the Peace Corps with great candor, said that most members "feel lucky to have the opportunity to go into a community where the people have invited you to serve."



Not-For-Profit Organizations as an Alternative



The staff at Career Services Office (CSO) encouraged students during their years at Middlebury and beyond to explore opportunities through making use of various databases, contacting alumni and attending career panels.

Many Middlebury students choose careers in the Not-For-Profit and Public Service sector.

This is seen by some as somewhat alternative to pursuing the more typical high-power business career or continuing education with graduate, medical or law school. However, CSO and its career counselors like O'Brien assured those students who are considering joining the Peace Corps or pursuing a career in a NFP organization that they "won't lose out on one thing in terms of career skill development."

On the contrary, the NFP and public service sector boasts an array of opportunities in the fields of the arts, education, environmental studies and activism, government and public policy, health care and international affairs.

NFP organizations that Middlebury students and graduates look at when not interested in the Peace Corps include the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, various wildlife federations, Save the Children, the Sierra Club, World Teach, Japanese English Teaching, Jesuit Volunteer International and the National Trust.

O'Brien said he tells students to "do the research to find the organization that best suits your interests, then talk to someone who volunteered and ask the tough questions."

There are also many opportunities locally for students to become involved while still in college. Director of Service Learning and Student Employment Tiffany Sargent commented that there are about 50 agencies and groups locally, such as Community Friends, the Page 1 Literacy Project and The Green Mountain Club, through which well over half of Middlebury students volunteer.

Sargent noted that through the activities of the Community Service Office and the Student Employment Office, it is readily apparent that there is "a huge interest among students to be active in the community... Middlebury College students are hungry for this."

The NFP and public service sector has undoubtedly been impacted by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, current issues in foreign policy and the threat of anthrax.

Roseborough commented that there exists an "increase [on the part of students] in the thought of taking their education, intelligence and language skills into an international situation to make a more global impact."

O'Brien suggested that "interest in the Peace Corps is up as high as it will be," as a result of the events of Sept. 11 when organizations like the Peace Corps were needed more than ever because they "foster a level of understanding."