{"id":174017,"date":"2023-03-14T15:18:58","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T01:18:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=174017"},"modified":"2023-03-21T08:38:54","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T18:38:54","slug":"jeffrey-tomas-return-to-service-overseas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/03\/14\/jeffrey-tomas-return-to-service-overseas\/","title":{"rendered":"Â鶹´«Ã½Hilo alum among 1st Peace Corps volunteers to return to service overseas"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Photo credit: Jeremy Boley<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Hilo<\/a> alum Jeffrey Tomas<\/strong> is among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return to overseas service since the agency\u2019s unprecedented global evacuation in March 2020. The Peace Corps suspended global operations and evacuated nearly 7,000 volunteers from more than 60 countries at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

“I was motivated to join the Peace Corps because of the opportunity to serve abroad in a community, immerse myself in a new culture, and learn a new language,” Tomas said. “I\u2019m most excited to try new foods, travel when I have the opportunity, and become more knowledgeable in all things agriculture. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to serve.”<\/p>\n

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Jeffrey Tomas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tomas, a Hilo native, graduated in 2020 with a bachelor\u2019s degree in anthropology. He will serve for two years as a volunteer in Zambia in the agriculture sector.<\/p>\n

“My studies and experience at UH<\/abbr> Hilo contributed to my decision to join the Peace Corps because as an anthropology major, I couldn\u2019t pass up the opportunity to fully immerse myself in a new culture,” said Tomas. “Also, being able to serve in a community while at the same time following my passion for agriculture, which I discovered while studying at UH<\/abbr> Hilo, seemed like a great idea.”<\/p>\n