In its 2005 annual survey of 300 Midwestern four-year colleges and universities, Ball State is tied with the University of Cincinnati and Illinois State University for the number of graduating seniors joining the organization.

"Ball State is an excellent campus for the Peace Corps because of the support we have from the many faculty who once were volunteers for our organization," said Jamie Diatta, a Chicago-based recruiter for the Peace Corps. "We've been able to do 15 to 20 presentations before classes each time we visit — the most of any school in the Midwest."

Peace Corps volunteers serve in 71 countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe and the Middle East. Collaborating with local community members, volunteers work in education, youth outreach and community development, the environment and information technology.

The Peace Corps returns to the Ball State campus Feb. 21-22 for information meetings and interviews. The organization will have an information table Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Atrium, located in the Art and Journalism Building. There also will be an information meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Center for International Programs in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center.

Interviews for prospective recruits will be held Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Career Center, located in Lucina Hall, room 220.

Ball State has had 161 alumni serve with the Peace Corps since the organization began in 1962. Currently there are 20 Ball State alumni serving overseas, with 15 alumni pursuing the application process.

Ball State was not ranked in 2004 because the organization only started recruiting regularly on campus in 2003. Applications may take several months or longer to process, delaying the start of volunteer work.

(Note to editors: For more information, contact James Mitchell, Career Center assistant director, at jmitchell@bsu.edu or (765) 285-2430.)