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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University ranks 25th nationally on the list of medium-size colleges and universities with alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers, according to a new Peace Corps survey.

In its 2003 list of "Top Producing Colleges and Universities," OSU ties with Montana State University, with 20 volunteers each.

In a letter to OSU President Tim White, Peace Corps director Gaddi Vasquez wrote: "The Peace Corps and Oregon State University have developed a significant relationship over the years. Thank you for the cooperation and support that you, faculty and administration members and students have contributed to our efforts to recruit new volunteers on campus."

Among medium-size colleges and universities, the University of Virginia leads the list with 68 volunteers. For large schools, the University of Wisconsin at Madison is number one with 123 volunteers and among small schools, Massachusetts' Tufts University is first with 31 volunteers.

In Oregon, other universities ranked include the University of Oregon at 14 among large colleges and universities, and Willamette University at 22 among small institutions.

Information about the Peace Corps is available by calling OSU Peace Corps representative Peter Giampaoli at 541-737-0525.

The Peace Corps has 6,678 volunteers in 70 countries. Since 1961, when the effort was founded by President John Kennedy, 168,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in 136 countries.