THE NAMES OF THE 62 PEACE CORPS TRAINEES of Colombia I, the first group to enter training for the Peace Corps, are inscribed on a commemorative plaque that was unveiled on November 6, 2010 at Rutgers University’s Hegeman Hall where the first Peace Corps training took place.
The unveiling was part of a celebration of that first Peace Corps training program — and training group — that brought to the campus 250 returned Peace Corps Volunteers and friends, as well as Philip Furmanski, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs of Rutgers University (whose daughter was a PCV), and Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Deputy Director of the Peace Corps, both of whom spoke at the unveiling.
Comments are closed or deactivated
I attended the Rutgers event to recognize Colombia I. It was inspiring. This group has stayed in touch over 50 years! Their strong common bond can be seen as formed by JFK, Sargent Shriver, and their team, who saw this group as the ones who would demonstrate to America that the Peace Corps wouldn’t become an American screw-up, reflecting poorly on the new President.
I was a member of the group that replaced Colombia I and, like every member of Colombia I that I met, feel that the Peace Corps was a life altering experience for me.
Thank you Colombia I for your trail-blazing work y “Viva Colombia!”
Paul Arfin