Celebrate the rich history of the Peace Corps at UW-Madison

Peace Corps Week

On March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed the executive order that created the Peace Corps. At UW–Madison, we celebrate the founding of the agency each year in a variety of ways, and invite the campus and community to celebrate with us from February 23th-March 1st 2025.  In addition to the events listed below, during Peace Corps week you can also see a display of photographs taken by Peace Corps Volunteers in the hall outside the UW Peace Corps recruiter’s office, 260 Bascom Hall.

Expanded Recruiter Office Hours

2025 Dates TBD–check back in late January 2025

Are you ready to apply to serve in the Peace Corps?  Just want to find out more about it?  Come talk to the Campus Recruiter.  This week she will be stationed in different locations around Campus, ready to talk to you about the process of applying, the benefits of serving, and what your day to day life as a Peace Corps Volunteer might be like.

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Application Workshop

5:30-7 PM @  Bascom Hall Room TBD

Stop by to get help on the Peace Corps application process and meet people who have been in your shoes and succeeded. If you are a junior or senior (or anyone ready to apply to Peace Corps in the next 18 months) and thinking about Peace Corps as a post-graduation or mid-career change option, the timing of this workshop is perfect for you. Come find out how to glide through the application process.

This workshop will be presented by the campus Peace Corps recruiter and Sydney Goggins of the UW-Madison Writing Center. Registrations will open in mid January.

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Peace Corps Story Slam 2025: “Tales of Transformation”

7:00-9:00 PM @ The Play Circle in Memorial Union

Come to hear speakers from almost every geographic area of Peace Corps as they entertain and engage you in  stories from their service. This year’s Story Slam theme is “Tales of Transformation.”

Story-tellers share 5-minute stories to illustrate questions like… What was your “aha” moment in Peace Corps? What happened that suddenly the reason for your service became clear? Or that your reason for being in that country, at that time, became clear?

Are you an RPCV with a story to tell?  There may be room for you to participate.  Sign up here before February 10th.

Check back here for more information as we get closer to the event.

 

 

MARCH 1, 2025

Freeze for Food 5K and 10K

Both races begin and end @ the Vilas Park Shelter

Join the Freeze for Food 5K/10K, sponsored by the RPCVs of Wisconsin-Madison. We raise funds to support food security programs of Madison’s Open Doors for Refugees, a nonprofit organization dedicated to welcoming refugees to the Madison area and supporting their resettlement.  Register to run in the race here, or sign up to volunteer to support the race.

 

Sponsors

Thank you to all of the sponsors of Peace Corps Week 2024!

Cosponsored by UW-Madison schools and departments:   International Division  ▪ Writing Center ▪  Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Wisconsin – Madison ▪ Wisconsin Union