The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa made its first appearance in the top 25 on the 2013 Peace Corps’ Top Colleges rankings, taking the number 24 spot among medium-sized schools. The annual list recognizes the highest volunteer-producing colleges and universities for small, medium, large and graduate institutions. There are currently 22 undergraduate alumni from UH Mānoa serving overseas.

“Every year, graduates of colleges and universities across the United States are making a difference in communities overseas through Peace Corps service,” said Peace Corps Acting Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet. “As a result of the top-notch education they receive, these graduates are well prepared for the challenge of international service. They become leaders in their host communities and carry the spirit of service and leadership back with them when they return home.”

UH Mānoa moves up 20 places from its number 44 ranking the previous year, making it the only school in Hawai‘i to place in the 2013 Top Colleges rankings. This marks the first time that UH Mānoa has appeared on Peace Corps’ Top Colleges since the rankings began in 2003. Historically, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, has produced 553 Peace Corps volunteers.

“The Peace Corps Program has a great history in Hawaiʻi and has flourished largely due to the culture of service in our islands. The UH Mānoa program has had excellent campus recruiters getting the word out about the opportunity and assisting with the entire process until our students are ready to leave for their service,” said Atina Pascua, Director of the UH Mānoa Service Learning Program that houses the program.

“The multicultural environment of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa exposed me to diverse people and cultures all at one place,” said Peggy Kang, a UH Mānoa alumna currently serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Lesotho. “Also, all the knowledge and experience gained through the latest and practical teaching methods and curriculum […] set a strong foundation for my primary job as an education volunteer.”

Students and community members interested in serving in the Peace Corps should contact Hawaiʻi Peace Corps Representative Sam West at pchawaii@hawaii.edu or (808) 956-6860.