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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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FEATURE
Working to Serve
When leaving for work in the morning, Megan Maksimowicz, an alumna from Wichita, doesn't head to an office building in a big city. Instead, she walks across red dirt scattered with green bushes, passing small, identical
She makes her way to the school where she works as a Peace Corps education volunteer, teaching math and physics to high school students. The school, and where Maksimowicz lives, are both located near Tanga, Tanzania, an African country off the coast of the Indian Ocean.
houses.
During her senior year of college, Maksimowicz had a tough time deciding whether or not to pursue graduate school after majoring in atmospheric sciences. When a professor mentioned the Peace Corps, Maksimowicz decided
to take a chance. "I hadn't had a break from school, and it seemed like if I was going to join the Peace Corps, it might be my only chance for a long time," Maksimowicz says.
Other students close to graduation are turning to similar opportunities. Instead of plunging into the 9 to 5 corporate world, almost-graduates are looking for alternative job options Besides the Peace Corps, Teach for America is another popular choice, not only nationally, but also at the University of Kansas.
Wendy Shoemaker, senior associate director at the University Career Center, says that students pursue these options because they're looking for a bridge experience. "It offers a transition between college life and whatever is next," she says. "Alternative job options are different and they offer skill development and experiences that are appealing."
Since 2008, Teach for America at the University has received almost 100 applications per year, an increase from the typical 70 or so applications four years ago, says Jeff Braum, Teach for America's on-campus recruiting manager. The University ranks 25th for top colleges nationally that have produced the most Peace Corps volunteers, with almost 500 joining since 1961.
Nationally, the application process for the 2011 Teach for America corps was more competitive than in years past with an 11 percent acceptance rate, according to a Teach for America press release. Peace Corps application numbers align with season trends, and roughly one in three applications are selected to the Peace Corps, says Emily Sharp, the University's Peace Corps recruiter.
While the Peace Corps and Teach for America have different agendas, their core mission is the same: integrate qualified, passionate volunteers into needy communities and help those less fortunate. But what else makes these organizations so highly sought after by graduating students?
CHRISTINE CURTIN
Inste grad
The Peace Corps
For 27 months, Peace Corps volunteers live in communities spanning 75 countries that request assistance. From education to public health to youth development, volunteers not only help the community and its members, but also fully integrate themselves as a member of their society.
But before they're accepted as volunteers, applicants must endure a year-long process. Adam Erickson, a senior from Chanute., knows how intense applying for the Peace Corps is. Erickson is currently in the nomination stage of the process, meaning he's completed the first part of applying, which included sending in letters of reference, essays, submitting basic background information and participating in on-campus interviews.
Now as a nominee, Erickson knows he will be teaching English in Eastern Europe. If he passes medical exams and the Peace Corps has a definite spot for him, he will depart in September 2012 for a three-month training session and for his specified location.
The Peace Corps looks for people with a strong commitment to humanitarian service, self-reliance and an ability to "roll with the punches," says Sharp, the University's Peace Corps recruiter. Living in a community with a different culture doesn't always go as planned. "In many of our host communities, life moves at a slower pace," Sharp says. "Things don't always work as reliably or efficiently."
Peace Corps volunteers are project managers, says LaShonda Walker, public affairs specialist at the Peace Corps regional office. They use the skills they've learned to help make a community a better place, while getting international work experience.
While Peace Corps volunteers practice their skills and learn about different cultures, they also receive financial benefits. Sharp says the Peace Corps covers all fees and makes ar-
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