Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), welcomes Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet to Vermont for a Peace Corps recruitment event for students at UVM, Middlebury College and Saint Michael’s College. The event highlights UVM’s Peace Corps Prep Program, which was established to offer more targeted and skill-building opportunities to undergraduate students interested in serving in the Peace Corps or in other international development and service organizations.
The event also features remarks by Peace Corps volunteer Taylor Dorn of Essex Junction, who will appear via Skype from Panama.
Vermont is the top-ranked Peace Corps Volunteer-producing state in the nation on a per capita basis. UVM ranked 7th nationally among medium size schools, with 25 alumni currently serving around the world. Among small schools nationally, Middlebury College ranked 3rd and Saint Michael’s College ranked 20th, with 16 and 9 volunteers respectively.
Leahy long has championed the Peace Corps and for more than two decades has headed the Senate panel that funds its annual budget. Leahy currently is the Ranking Member of the State Department and Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.
