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 March 1-March 7, 2026. 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.
Peace Corps Trivia: All Week!
How much do you know about Peace Corps (or are you willing to research?) Every morning during Peace Corps week check here and on our social media (instagram and facebook) pages for the question of the day. If you know the answer, come by one of the week’s events (except Freeze for Food) and claim a prize. See below for all of our events.
Tuesday March 3, 2026
Over the years, Peace Corps has had many different slogans. What are two of them?”
Expanded Recruiter Office Hours
March 2, 11:30AM-1:30PM, First Floor of Memorial Union
March 3, 10AM-noon, 200-B Bascom Hall
March 5, 2PM-4PM, First Floor of College Library
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.
March 3, 2026
Application Workshop
5:30-7 PM @ Bascom Hall Room 55
Sign up for this workshops to get help on the Peace Corps application process. 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, the timing of this workshop is perfect for you. You will be introduced to the application form, the federal resume format, and get tips on how to write motivation statements that will catch the attention of interviewers.
This workshop will be presented by the campus Peace Corps recruiter the UW-Madison Writing Center. Registration is open now: https://go.wisc.edu/5vm39b
March 4, 2026
Infosession
noon-1 PM @ 301 Ingraham Hall
The Peace Corps is looking for people who are eager to delve deeply into international cultural exchange while collaborating with communities on projects in six sectors: education, health, agriculture, economic development, environment and youth development. If you are a US citizen getting ready to graduate from college, you are eligible to apply. Come to this short info session in the International Studies Major Office to learn more and meet the UW-Madison Campus Recruiter. Feel free to bring your lunch.
Wednesday March 4th, 2026
Peace Corps Story Slam 2026: Why Peace Corps
6-7:30 PM, 159 Education Building
Come to hear speakers from almost every geographic area of Peace Corps as they entertain and engage you in stories from their service.
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? Sign up here.
Pizza and salad provided at this event.
MARCH 7, 2026
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 2026!
Cosponsored by UW-Madison schools and departments: International Division ▪ Writing Center ▪ Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Wisconsin – Madison ▪ Wisconsin Union