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MSU Graduate Invited to Serve in Peace Corps

MSU Graduate Invited to Serve in Peace Corps
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By WestKyStar & MSU Staff
Dec. 11, 2017 | MURRAY, KY
By WestKyStar & MSU Staff Dec. 11, 2017 | 07:23 PM | MURRAY, KY
Tyler Mathews, a recent Murray State University graduate, has been invited to serve as a volunteer for the Community Economic Development sector of the Peace Corps in Moldova beginning in June 2018.
 
Mathews, originally from Springfield, Illinois, graduated from the University in December 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in international business and political science. After extensive research and consideration prior to his graduation, Mathews decided to submit an application to the Peace Corps, a leading service organization operated by the U.S. government dedicated to creating positive change in the world through immersive international volunteer experiences.
 
“I was really conflicted on where I wanted to go post-undergrad,” Mathews said. “I wanted to travel, I wanted to use what I’ve learned in undergrad and I wanted to learn from people who have experienced vastly different lives. I think, at least for me, the combination of those three ideas screams the Peace Corps.”
 
Serving with the Peace Corps is a prestigious, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with a competitive application process. After speaking with a recruiter from the organization, Mathews learned about the Peace Corps Prep Program at Murray State, which pairs select undergraduate courses with leadership and community service opportunities. Among the benefits of the program is hands-on experience and professional development training for improving foreign language proficiency, intercultural competence, leadership skills and more.
 
“The classes I took as part of my major — the same classes required for the [Peace Corps Prep] program — were arguably the most beneficial classes I will ever take,” Mathews said. “Their content is so practical and easily applied to the fields within the Peace Corps. I think it is certainly a program that anyone considering Peace Corps service should take as they will provide a sense of understanding and, if they’re like me, curiosity and passion for their field of choice.” 

Mathews will begin his service with the Peace Corps in June 2018, volunteering in the Eastern European country of Moldova. At the beginning of his 27 months of service, Mathews will complete in-country training focused on language, community economic development, culture and medicine. After completing his training, Mathews will then travel to his permanent site location to complete his service, working alongside Moldovan community members and training locals how to be better volunteers.
 
“I’m very excited for Tyler and the adventure he is about to embark on,” said Shawna Thomas, program coordinator for Murray State’s Peace Corps Prep Program. “Tyler is not only the first graduate of the program to receive an invitation to serve as a volunteer but he is also the first graduate of the program in the state of Kentucky to receive an invitation to serve.”
 
For more information about the Peace Corps Prep Program at Murray State, please visit murraystate.edu/academics/pcprep or contact Thomas at sthomas39@murraystate.edu. 
 
About Murray State University: Murray State University provides an “Opportunity Afforded” for more than 10,000 students through a high-quality education with experiential learning, academic and personal growth and the ability to secure a lifetime of success. Since 1922, the true value of higher education has been found at Murray State University, where our commitment is to afford endless opportunities for developing leaders in the community, the country and the world. The University’s main campus is located in Murray and includes five regional campuses. For more information about Murray State University, visit murraystate.edu.

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