More Oberlin alumni these days are proving they have what it takes to serve in the Peace Corps.

An influx of graduates currently serving in the Peace Corps has increased the College’s ranking of top producers for small schools. This year, the College moved up 13 spots to rank No. 11 in the list of top 25 small schools with volunteers. The small school category includes institutions with 5,000 or fewer students.

Oberlin now has 18 graduates serving around the world, contributing to a 37-year high for Peace Corps volunteers currently serving. Volunteers are fulfilling a 27-month commitment in fields ranging from education, technology, environment, youth outreach, agriculture, business development, health care, and HIV/AIDS awareness.

While the tradition of volunteering and giving back to the community is nothing new to Oberlin students, the Peace Corps’ competitive application process demonstrates how well prepared they are for the challenges of serving abroad.

Hazel Domangue, Oberlin’s regional Peace Corps recruiter, says the application process – which takes nine to 12 months – selects the best and the brightest to represent the U.S.

“We’re looking not only at their academic achievements, but also their volunteer background,” Domangue says. “We want to get a sense of their attitude – flexibility is very important – and their dedication to serve as a volunteer. I find most Oberlin students already have a volunteer background.”

Domangue says she’s always impressed with the level of student interest and enthusiasm when she visits campus.

“I really enjoy coming to Oberlin, and I usually have a lot of people to interview, about 12 to 14, compared with only four or five at larger schools,” Domangue says. “Although it’s a long, intensive process, Oberlin students are usually very eager and show up in good numbers at the information sessions.”

The College’s strong representation in the Peace Corps can be attributed to study abroad and classroom experiences that instill a world view, says Nathan Elton, association director of Career Services. “Service-oriented projects, such as those offered through Oberlin’s Bonner Center for Service and Learning, prepare students and build a solid volunteer background,” he says. “I think the reputation we have is important, it’s something that’s ingrained in our students – to give back and look at the world around them, and see how they can make a difference.”

For Max Gerboc ’08, a politics major, the decision to apply to the Peace Corps was based on practicality and ideology. In some cases, volunteers can waive tuition at graduate schools or earn a reduction in federal loans. Serving in the Peace Corps could also lend an advantage when competing for federal jobs.

Gerboc, who graduates in May, is in the final stage of the application process. “I’d like to spend some of my life volunteering my time, and the Peace Corps gives me the opportunity to effectively use the experience and skills I’ve picked up in the last four years,” he says. “Overall, the Peace Corps offers the chance to leave a net positive on the world while providing great benefits for volunteers.”

An information session for prospective Peace Corps volunteers is scheduled for February 5 at Wilder Hall, and Domangue will be conducting on-campus interviews Feb. 6 for students who have submitted an application.