TEACH FOR AMERICA IS NO. 1 EMPLOYER OF GW GRADUATES
WASHINGTON - The lives of nearly 8,000 students in low-income school districts will be influenced by the work of George Washington University alumni who will join Teach For America. Beginning in August, 47 graduates will teach in 19 different regions across the United States, making Teach For America the top employer for GW seniors. The university's acceptance rate in the program is 32 percent -- more than double the national average of 14.5 percent.
(Media-Newswire.com) - WASHINGTON - The lives of nearly 8,000 students in low-income school districts will be influenced by the work of George Washington University alumni who will join Teach For America. Beginning in August, 47 graduates will teach in 19 different regions across the United States, making Teach For America the top employer for GW seniors. The university's acceptance rate in the program is 32 percent -- more than double the national average of 14.5 percent.
The new GW alumni will teach for two years in urban and rural public schools throughout the country. This group comprises leaders from diverse organizations at the university, including the Student Association; Class Council; Colonial Cabinet; the Student Admissions Representative program and Visitor Information Program; the Multicultural Student Services Center; the University Honors Program; the Office of Community Service; honor societies Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Beta Kappa, and Golden Key; the Senior Class Gift Committee; and Alternative Spring Break.
"Public Service is an integral part of the GW experience and is embraced by our students, faculty, staff, and alumni," said GW President Steven Knapp. "We are proud that so many of this year's graduates have chosen to make this exceptional commitment."
GW has received several accolades for its commitment to service. The university ranks second in the nation among medium-sized universities in the number of undergraduate alumni serving as Peace Corps volunteers. Sixty-six GW graduates served abroad as volunteers in 2007. GW graduate alumni now rank third in the country with 14 Peace Corps volunteers. In 2005, Princeton Review named the university as one of the nation's top socially aware schools in its publication "81 Colleges with a Conscience." The university also is a member of the Partnership for Public Service and actively promotes careers in the public sector.
Teach For America is the national corps of top recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity. The organization will place more than 3,700 new teachers this fall in low-income communities across the country, the largest incoming corps in the organization's 18-year history.
Located four blocks from the White House, The George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the nation's capital. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business, and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 130 countries.
MEDIA CONTACT: Michelle Sherrard ( 202 ) 994-1423; mcs1@gwu.edu
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