Denison University again this year has placed on the Peace Corps’ list of top schools nationwide producing Peace Corps volunteers. With 16 alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers, Denison is No. 23 in this year’s rankings among small-sized colleges and universities. Since Peace Corps was founded in 1961, 243 Denison alumni have served in Peace Corps.

Among other Ohio schools on the list, Kenyon and Oberlin each ranked 18th with 17 volunteers and Case Western tied with Denison at 16 volunteers.

“Denison’s mission statement calls on it to educate men and women to be ‘autonomous thinkers, discerning moral agents, and active citizens,’ so it’s no surprise that current students and graduates alike display a passion for service,” Denison University President Dale T. Knobel said. “Denisonians have served their country and the world through the Peace Corps for decades, and, as a community, we’re proud that few other colleges match the record of service that our graduates have compiled.”

“For the last 50 years, colleges and universities across our country have been an integral part of the Peace Corps family, from developing young leaders, to hosting trainings and teaching the importance of lifelong learning,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams. “In 1961, President Kennedy created the Peace Corps in response to the passion of university students, and today we continue to be inspired by the enthusiasm, dedication, and creativity of the thousands of Americans now serving overseas. Colleges instill a commitment to public service among their students and share our belief that, together, we can work to make the world a better place.”

The entire top 25 rankings for each school size category are available here.

Peace Corps volunteers work in the areas of education; agriculture, forestry and environment; public health and HIV/AIDS; youth and community development; math and science, and engineering; and business planning and IT.