The Peace Corps has released its latest ranking of US colleges and universities by the number of Peace Corps volunteers they produce, and Washington universities top the list in all three categories. The University of Washington leads "Large Colleges & Universities" with 107 volunteers, Western Washington University leads "Medium Colleges and Universities" with 73 volunteers, and Gonzaga University leads "Small Colleges and Universities" with 24 volunteers.

Seattle University, University of Puget Sound, Evergreen State College, Whitman College, and Pacific Lutheran University also made the top 25 list in the "Small Colleges and Universities" category.

In a press release issued this morning, US Representative Jim McDermott (D-Seattle) couldn't help but kvell over the news:

“Today's announcement is unexpected but not surprising. Washington State boasts an impressive collection of universities and it’s now clear that in addition to academic excellence, we are also home to an accomplished community of humanitarians and ambassadors of peace. The University of Washington, Western Washington University and Gonzaga University should be very proud of this distinction.

“I had the opportunity to be a part of a similar, pre-cursor program just before the Peace Corps’ 1961 founding and it was a life changing experience."

Here's to a future generation of Jim McDermotts!