Peace Corps in Dominican Republic for Weiss ΓÇÖ17
3 May 2018 Peace Corps in Dominican Republic for Weiss 17
Joining the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic this fall, Carl Weiss 17 will assist school officials, volunteers and project partners in improving classroom curriculum and student reading skills as a Spanish literacy promoter. His two-year appointment, a longtime dream for Weiss, will also include creating programming to promote literacy throughout the community.
I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself, says Weiss, who graduated with B.A. in international relations and credits his study abroad and international internships as a Hobart student for equipping him for the position.
Weiss joins a cohort of more than 14 HWS alums currently volunteering with the Peace Corps worldwide. For the second consecutive year, Hobart and William Smith rank No. 4 nationally among small schools on the Peace Corps 2018 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list.
Weiss says his ambition to join the Peace Corps was shaped by the Colleges program in San Joaqun de Flores, Costa Rica, a fully-immersive Spanish language experience.
I was pushed to my limits many times, says Weiss, who minored in Spanish and Hispanic studies. But the patience and love of my host family made it an extremely formative experience.
To further develop his international service experience, Weiss interned with Hand In Hand for Haiti, an organization co-founded by Edward J. Brennan P06, P09. For two summers, Weiss developed curriculum and taught English to elementary school students though the program. The Hobart soccer defenseman also led athletic clinics in Haiti, teaching his students all that he learned on Cozzens Field.
Soccer gave me the opportunity to collaborate with people from many backgrounds, which is an invaluable skill for entering the Peace Corps program, says the two-time Liberty League All-Academic.
On campus, Weiss was a member of Theta Delta Chi and Eye to Eye, a club dedicated to empowering children with learning disabilities. During his senior year, Weiss tutored at the Geneva Boys and Girls Club through the Tutor Corps. Since graduating last spring, Weiss has continued his work with the Boys and Girls Club organizationasa volunteer in the Syracuse area, and is also employed as a social services professional. He plans to continue his work in non-profit organizations following his service in the Peace Corps, contemplating both domestic and international service, as well as graduate study.