Washington, D.C., March 29, 1999—Peace Corps director of domestic programs Joseph Permetti and Florida Institute of Technology President Lynn Edward Weaver signed an agreement today to establish the Florida Tech Graduate Environmental Fellows Program.
"This is an exciting venture and educational opportunity for the Peace Corps and will meet a specific need for some returning volunteers," said Permetti.
The agreement with Florida Tech marks the first environmental Fellows program offered by the Peace Corps. Fellows may study ecology, conservation biology, marine biology, or a variety of other environmental degrees. Under the terms of the new Fellows program, students will receive 90 percent of the tuition cost and pay 10 percent of their own tuition. They will also receive an annual stipend similar to other graduate teaching and research assistants.
Florida Tech president Weaver extended his support saying, "We are honored to offer a program under the auspices of the Peace Corps. The fellowship will assist volunteers in fulfilling their professional goals while addressing many of Florida\'s critical ecosystem and biodiversity issues."
The first Fellow to participate in the new program will be Katrina Babulski, who was a Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica and is currently a Florida Tech graduate student in environmental education.
Since the inception of the Fellows/USA program in 1985, more than 1,000 returned volunteers have completed the program through other universities in the United States. The new program joins 26 others available throughout the country.