Lydia Grate, a senior triple major in broadcast journalism, public relations, and speech communication, has been extremely involved on the Tech campus in her four years of attendance.

Grate was awarded the Margaret Young Award, which goes to the most outstanding female senior on the Tech campus, on Monday night.

Recently, Grate accepted a position with the Peace Corps for 27 months in Togo, Africa.

“I’ve known the name for years, but I just knew the name,” she said. “But two years ago, I started researching the Peace Corps a lot,” said Grate.

After heavily researching through the Internet, Grate decided to apply. But before committing to a two-year assignment, she wanted to speak with someone first.

“I kept thinking I want to apply, I want to do this, but it’s a two year commitment so I want to talk to someone about it first,” she said.

Grate went to a recruitment session at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where the district recruitment officer was speaking.

“Most of what he said, I knew from online, but it felt good to hear from someone in person, she said. “His stories and anecdotes were really beneficial.”

After going through the lengthy application process, Grate was accepted into the Peace Corp, and assigned to serve 27 months in Togo.

“I didn’t pick where I would go.  For me it’s all about the experiences,” she said.

Although specifying is an option, she said, “Me specifying where I wanted to go would have made it harder for me to be placed because of what my job will be.”

Grate will be an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Advisor in Togo, Africa.  She will work in Small Enterprise Development (SED).

“Basically, my job can be a lot of things,” she said.

“I’ll teach basic business skills with a focus in marketing and how to use media — for them the radio — and how to use computers with and without the Internet.”

Grate will leave on June 2 to begin her time in Togo. She will go to Philadelphia, Penn., for two days to learn basic information like cultural gestures, health, and safety procedures. From there she will depart to Togo on June 4.

For her first three months in Togo, Grate will be living with a host family and learning the native language of Togo, which is French.  Grate may also have to get used to living with few of the amenities she has had all of her life.  Laughing, she explained her thoughts on living without running water, indoor plumbing, or electricity.

“In the beginning, I kept thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can do this,’” she said.

“Now I’m to the point that I’m thinking I have no idea how to live like that. In America, everything is handed to you.  I’m excited to learn something new and gain a great experience.”

The Peace Corps was created in 1961 under John F. Kennedy’s administration with the mission “to promote world peace and friendship.” The organization celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, and since the creation of the organization more than 200,000 Americans have volunteered with the Peace Corps.

Grate is the current president of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), the Vice President of Public Relations for the Marketing Club, a member of the forensics program on campus, one of the  2010 Who’s Who, and also a member of Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

Grate is also a staff writer for The Arka Tech, a DJ/co-host for KXRJ, and a member of the College of Business Advisory Board.

After finishing her time with the Peace Corps, Grate plans on going to graduate school.

Throughout its history, the Peace Corps has adapted and responded to the issues of the times. In an ever-changing world, Peace Corps Volunteers have met new challenges with innovation, creativity, determination, and compassion.

From AIDS education to emerging technologies to environmental preservation to new market economies, Peace Corps volunteers have helped people build better lives for themselves.

Their work in villages, towns, and cities around the globe represents a legacy of service that has become a significant part of America’s history and positive image abroad.

Since 1961, 200,000+ Americans have joined the Peace Corps, serving in 139 countries and making a difference every day.