A pair of Michigan universities have produced more than 2,000 Peace Corps volunteers since its founding in 1961.
The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Michigan State University rank No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, in the top-10 universities with at least 15,000 undergraduates enrolled, according to the Peace Corps.
Since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961, the Ann Arbor university has seen 2,065 volunteers, officials said. The East Lansing university was just dozens of volunteers behind with 2,004, officials said.
The No. 1 volunteer producer was University of California-Berkeley with 2,862, officials said.
The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor was also the No. 1 producer of volunteers out of graduate schools with 558, officials said.
President John F. Kennedy announced the creation of the Peace Corps in 1960 in a speech on the Michigan Union steps in Ann Arbor in front of 10,000 people.
The Peace Corps Prep and Paul D. Coverdell Fellowships on the Ann Arbor campus facilitate volunteer opportunities with the organization. Michigan State offers its students Peace Corps Prep, as well.
There are more than 240,000 Americans that have served in the Peace Corps, officials said. The application deadline for this year is May 1, and those interested may apply online at peacecorps.gov/apply. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov/bold.
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