UC Berkeley alum Shannon Hy-Coe taught English to high school students as an urban youth development volunteer in Paraguay from 2004 to 2006.

Six University of California campuses are top producers of Peace Corps volunteers this year, adding to UC’s long tradition of international service that began with the creation of the Peace Corps more than 50 years ago.

The Peace Corps released its 2014 list of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities last week, and UC campuses were well represented:

• UCLA ranked sixth this year with 67 alumni serving. Overall, 1,910 UCLA graduates have served in the Peace Corps since its founding in 1961, the seventh most of any U.S. college or university.
• UC Berkeley ranked seventh this year with 66 alumni serving and is the all-time leading U.S. university with 3,576 volunteers.
• UC San Diego ranked 12th, with 54 alumni serving. Since the Peace Corps inception, 774 have volunteered.
• UC Santa Barbara ranked 13th with 48 alumni serving. It has the 12th-most volunteers of all-time with 1,611 volunteers.
• UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz tied for 19th place with 41 alumni each. UC Davis ranks 16th for most volunteers of all time with 1,429 people serving, while 787 UC Santa Cruz graduates have been in the Peace Corps.

“The same passion that launched the Peace Corps more than 50 years ago fuels progress in developing countries today thanks to the leadership and creativity that college graduates bring to their Peace Corps service,” said Carrie Hessler-Radelet, acting director of the Peace Corps.

The University of California’s association with the Peace Corps dates back to UCLA serving as one of the first training sites in 1961. UC campuses have consistently been top producers of volunteers, and more than 10,000 UC alumni have served.

Peace Corps volunteers live and work in communities around the world with the goal of promoting a better understanding between Americans and the people they serve.

“The unique Peace Corps experience helps recent graduates cultivate highly sought-after skills that will launch their careers in today’s global economy,” Hessler-Radelet said.