HERE’S BEN Biography

Age: 24.

High school: Liberty High School Class of 2003.

College: Macalester College, St. Paul, Minn.

The Legow family: Includes father, Elliot; mom, Christine; and sister, Sarah.

Peace Corps term/assignment: Listed as a K-17, which means part of the 17th group of volunteers sent to Kyrgyzstan. Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Has been a volunteer trainee, and officially became a volunteer on June 10. Term lasts until June 11, 2011.

Hobbies: Reads everything from Central Asian history to Cleveland Cavaliers box scores and listens to music “to stay sane.” Is also a serious movie addict.

Why the Peace Corps? “Way back in the day, someone asked a mountaineer why he wanted to climb Everest, his somewhat prickly reply was, ‘Because it’s there.’ To a certain degree, I feel the same way about the Peace Corps. I have an opportunity to travel out into the world, meet new people, learn about their culture and try to be useful while doing so. Why not? Furthermore, I feel very strongly about the idea of service, be it domestic or international. To some degree, all people have an obligation to help each other when they are able and do what they can to make the world more livable. I’m not so wet behind the ears as to think that I’m going to single-handedly save the world, but knowing that I’m making what effort I can makes getting up in the morning that much easier.”

How to join the Peace Corps

For more information about the Peace Corps or becoming a volunteer, visit www.peacecorps.gov.