Livia Winch will be serving in the Peace Corps as an English teacher in Querétaro, Mexico later this year. Winch, a senior from Dodgeville, Wisconsin, is double majoring in business management and Spanish. She will graduate this May.
Winch is the first University of Wisconsin-Platteville student in more than a decade to be accepted into the Peace Corps before graduation. She hopes to use this prestigious opportunity to further her education and career goals.
"I want to gain more experience before I go back to school for my master's degree, and the Peace Corps is a route many people take to get into the U.S. State Department, which is what I would eventually like to do," said Winch. "I can continue teaching English, work directly to make a positive influence and use my Spanish!"
Winch credits UW-Platteville’s Spanish faculty as being crucial to her development as a teacher and Spanish speaker.
"Dr. Chris Schulenburg and Dr. Alyssa Holan have had a major influence on my decision to accept my Peace Corps offer as they have not only taught me Spanish but motivated and encouraged me throughout the journey," said Winch, "I probably would never have applied to the Peace Corps if I did not go through the Spanish program at UW-Platteville. The professors here are the best of the best."
For Schulenburg, recommending Winch was an easy decision. He witnessed her growth from a student in intermediate Spanish to an influential speaker in the local community.
"From studying abroad in Seville, Spain, to advising rural Panamanian communities in starting a business, to volunteering as a translator at the Dodgeville Free Clinic, Livia inspires on a daily basis," explained Schulenburg. "Livia's incorporation into the Peace Corps is tangible evidence of the academic strength and professional applicability of the Spanish program at UW-Platteville."
As a student leader, Winch honors her community by giving back through numerous service organizations. She describes how her work challenges her to grow and keeps her focused on helping others.
"I have also been motivated by the amazing individuals I work with at Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program (SWCAP), Cesa 3 and the Community Connections Free Clinic," said Winch, "They are the most selfless people I know and the direct impact they have on others has motivated me to do the same."