The Peace Corps and Teach for America each have announced that Denison University is among the nation’s best-ranked colleges and universities on their annual lists of top contributors of volunteers.

“Denison students are passionate about public service and about making a positive difference in our world,” says Denison University President Dale Knobel. “It doesn’t surprise me that as Denison graduates, many young men and women want to put their education to work to help others.”

The Peace Corps reported this week that the No. 15 spot on their list of top small colleges and universities is a three-way tie between Denison, Williams College (Mass.) and Reed College (Ore.), each with 17 graduates currently serving as volunteers. The only other Ohio school in the top 25 list is Oberlin College, which is tied for No. 6 with 20 volunteers.

According to a news release from the Peace Corps’ Washington, D.C., headquarters, there currently are 7,876 Peace Corps volunteers serving a 27-month commitment in 76 countries.

In addition, Denison is the only Ohio school of any size on Teach for America’s lists of top colleges and universities contributing alumni to its Teaching Corps. Denison ranks tenth among small schools, with 10 class of 2008 graduates who have become new corps participants.

Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates from all academic majors and career interests, who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity.

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