Back to: News Services' Press Releases June 9, 1999		11 from Oberlin College to Join Peace Corps Media Contact: Betty Gabrielli email: betty.gabrielli@oberlin.edu phone: (440) 775-8474
			OBERLIN, OHIO--The adventure and challenge of going to another country to learn a new culture are among several reasons 10 Oberlin College graduates and one near graduate will soon share their expertise as Peace Corps volunteers. The 11 former Oberlin students have accepted positions in health extension, English, teaching, forestry, business advising, and community services. They will be assigned to a number of the 78 countries served by the Peace Corps. Eighteen Oberlin alumni are already serving overseas in the program. With more than 413 alumni having joined the Peace Corps, Oberlin is fifth in the nation among the small colleges and universities whose graduates have served in the agency since its founding in 1961. The new Oberlin nominees include May graduates Ian Bennett, Caroline Cohen, Merredith Collins, Shoshanah Inwood, Marilou Marcelo, Bridget McHenry, Sasha Pollack, Laura Schwartz, Kristi Schurman, and Wesley Steele. Nominee Anthony Johnson is finishing his degree away from Oberlin. Peace Corps Director Mark Gearan says that nominee designates applicants whom the Peace Corps has chosen for service. They have qualified for a program and received the necessary recommendation to move to the next step in the process--an invitation--after they pass clearances. Nearly 6700 Peace Corps volunteers work in 78 countries in education, the environment, health and nutrition, business advising, and community development. Since 1961, more than 150,000 Americans have joined the agency. The Peace Corps recently received an 8 percent budget increase, from $222 million in fiscal year 1998 to $240 million in this fiscal year. Director Gearan says this comprehensive budget agreement will enable the Peace Corps to send more volunteers overseas. "The budget increase will allow us to capture the growing spirit of volunteer service across the country, giving hundreds more Americans the opportunity to serve help us meet increasing demands in the developing world. The agreement puts us on the path to having 10,000 volunteers serving overseas, a goal of the Congress for the last 13 years."