Over 20 Dartmouth graduates and community members who have served in the Peace Corps in countries like Jamaica and Burkina-Faso in West Africa attended the event, along with Peace Corps recruiters who were on campus for the Employer Connections Fair.
"This is a remarkable achievement," DeRosa said of the award. "Today's Peace Corps volunteers represent the very best of what America has to offer the world...and we could not do what we do at the Peace Corps without the help of Dartmouth."
Dartmouth has sent 572 alumni to the Peace Corps since the organization's inception in 1961 and currently has 37 graduates serving in various countries.
Upon receiving the plaque, Nelson offered his personal views on why Dartmouth graduates continually enter the Peace Corps.
"Dartmouth students have an international awareness," he said, citing the fact that over half of the class of 2005 participated in at least one of the College's 42 off-campus programs.
He went on to say that the Language Study Abroad and Foreign Study Program are an integral part of the College's successful language curriculum and contribute to Dartmouth students' lasting passion for working overseas and immersing themselves in other cultures after graduation.
DeRosa also praised Dartmouth students' dedication to effecting change in the world around them.
"A spirit of public service is something that is palpable here at Dartmouth," DeRosa said.
Professor John Rassias, whom DeRosa dubbed "the godfather" of the Peace Corps language immersion programs, also spoke at the event. Rassias began a long relationship with the Peace Corps language programs in 1964 when he became the director of the Corps' first pilot program of languages in Africa. He also founded Dartmouth's LSA and FSP programs and the famed "Rassias method" of teaching language through frequent drills and classes.
Rassias' work and Dartmouth's recent achievement both demonstrate the College's unique sustained connection to the Peace Corps.
Dartmouth was also commended for its historical undergraduate Peace Corps participation. Career Services Director Skip Sturman informed the audience that for several years, Dartmouth was the only college in the country that sent undergraduate interns to the Corps, a process facilitated by the Tucker Foundation.
At this week's Employer and Not-For-Profit fairs, several regional Peace Corps recruiters eagerly sought to perpetuate the College's bond with the organization. During the fair, Peace Corps Regional Recruiter George Rutherford spoke with over 150 students interested in getting involved with the group.
Rutherford expects to receive applications from around 40 of those students, approximately 75 percent of whom will ultimately receive nominations from the Peace Corps.
"One thing we find here year after year is consistency," Rutherford said. "[Dartmouth students show] a real desire to go overseas coupled with a sense of altruism. I'm not saying that other schools don't have that, but it's really strong here."
