Vermont ranks number one in per-capita Peace Corps volunteers

(NECN: Anya Huneke, Burlington, VT) - When it comes to volunteering and helping others, Vermont is at the top of the list, according to new information released by the Peace Corps. And some who have worked with the Peace Corps say the rankings don't come as much of a surprise.

Five years ago, Erin Roche and her husband signed up for an experience that would take them halfway across the world- to the kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific.

They were looking for a change and an adventure that would benefit them- but more importantly, others.

They joined the Peace Corps, and for two years, taught English at a post-secondary school. They returned to the west coast to restart their careers...

Erin "But we got back to Seattle and our real lives weren't the same."

So, they moved to Vermont, and Roche got a job at the center for rural studies at the University of Vermont in Burlington.

Erin "Vermont seemed like a really interesting place- it had a lot of the same values that the Peace Corps makes you think about."

That could explain Vermont’s latest ranking by the Peace Corps as the number one volunteer-producing state - per capita - in the country.

According to data released this week, Vermont has the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers - almost 10 per 100-thousand.

Washington, D.C. ranks second- with almost eight, and Maine third- with almost six.

Not only is Vermont at the top of the list, but

its largest city, Burlington, is in the top ten in the country per capita for peace corps volunteers. Some are recent college graduates... but many others are residents-who are already involved in community service.">

Ned McMahon\Prof., Int'l Devel., UVM "Burlington is a progressive city- with a long history of civic engagement."

Ned McMahon - professor of international development at UVM - says he isn't surprised by the rankings.

Ned “It's not anything new, but it's certainly something I hope will continue."

Chances are, it will.

Jake Evans - a Peace Corps recruiter - says interest in Vermont has been steady, and applications across the country are up 18-percent over last year.

Jake: "It could be the economy... a new president... people looking for something else to do..."

Hisashi Kominami is among those considering the peace corps- after grad school at UVM.

Kominami ”It's something I always thought about doing."

And now, he says, may be as good a time as any.