UW alums give peace a chance

For the second year in a row, the University of Washington tops the list of large colleges sending volunteers to the Peace Corps. This achievement shines as brightly as the university's academic and research distinctions.

Educating young people about the world they live in is one challenge. Creating an environment that nurtures a desire to take those lessons into the world to help others is quite another. Graduate student Tom Edwardsen, the Peace Corps' part-time campus representative, works through the Career Center. He attributes part of UW's admirable record to strong academic programs that coincide with the Peace Corps' areas of emphasis — business, health, education and the environment. Combine that with a campus culture of public service and an appreciation for volunteers.

The University of Washington leads the nation, but other Pacific Northwest colleges and universities are also high achievers. The University of Oregon is No. 10 on the list of large schools. Western Washington University in No. 3 for medium-size colleges. The honor roll is even more crowded among small campuses: Gonzaga University, Willamette University and University of Puget Sound rank Nos. 2, 3 and 4 nationally. Lewis & Clark College is tied for No. 6, and Reed College is tied for 21st. UW ranks first among graduate schools.

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. left behind a timeless challenge: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing to help others?"

On campus, those words are invoked by the Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center, which is part of the outward-looking environment that helps the UW cultivate legions of volunteers. Monday is the center's Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

More than 1,000 students are signed up for outdoor-restoration projects, work at the Northwest Harvest distribution center, chores at homeless shelters — even work on a United Way project to assist with tax preparation.

Thus the seeds are planted for a lifetime of service. And some will go into the Peace Corps. UW is third on the all-time list of volunteers since 1961.