Peace Corps teacher David Buie '00 (center front, in stocking cap) in Malawi, Africa, on a field trip with his class to a national park.

Buie teaches biology and physical science in a small village secondary school. "Teaching is difficult without electricity, running water, or enough books and laboratory equipment, but it means you have to be inventive," he writes. "I am grateful for professors like Dr. Devlin and Dr. Werth. All my teaching ability comes from remembering how they taught us and made the class interesting."

Although he was scheduled to return in November 2002, he extended his contract for several additional years, because he was so attached to the students and to the task at hand. Before Buie came to Malawi, only six people from his school had passed their national exams to earn a secondary school certificate, and no one had ever qualified to go on to University. Last year 16 of their students passed the exam, and two qualified to go on to University.