Peace Corps recognizes Tufts

Tufts University is ranked as the top small school (fewer than 5,000 undergraduates) in the country for the number of Peace Corps volunteers serving around the world.

Tufts President Lawrence S. Bacow receives the 2002 Peace Corps Global Service Award from the organization's deputy director, Jody Olsen. © Mark Morelli

Peace Corps Deputy Director Jody Olsen presented Tufts President Lawrence S. Bacow with the 2002 Peace Corps Global Service Award December 6 during a ceremony in the Coolidge Room in Ballou Hall.

"The entire Tufts community is proud of our students' dedication to public service, especially in the Peace Corps," Bacow said. "Tufts has a long tradition of preparing students to address today's problems and tomorrow's challenges—wherever they may encounter them. Peace Corps leadership is another excellent example of the influence of Tufts students and alumni throughout the world."

Twenty-three Tufts alumni are currently serving in the Peace Corps, up from 22 (and second on the top 10 list) in 2001. Tufts volunteers are serving in Tanzania, Cameroon, Malawi, Mali, Togo, Paraguay, Bolivia and Panama, among other countries. To date, more than 410 Tufts alumni have served in the Peace Corps.

More than 163,000 Americans have served in more than 135 countries since President John F. Kennedy signed the executive order creating the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961. For more information about the Peace Corps, visit www.peacecorps.gov