Grant Smith has traveled to Cuba, Guatemala and Hungary. But his latest adventure is taking him from Morgantown to Madagascar.

The Charleston native and recent West Virginia University graduate is spending two years as a Peace Corps volunteer, teaching English to secondary school students and working on community health projects such as AIDS education and awareness.

When considering volunteer service, Smith said he felt he had a duty to help, expand his horizons and learn more about the world, adding,I believe a teacher is the noblest of occupations.

A 2000 graduate of George Washington High School, Smith attended WVU where he received a bachelor of science degree in journalism this past spring. During his senior year, he was the managing editor of The Daily Athenaeum, WVU s student newspaper.

Smiths nose for news also led him to serve as president of the WVU Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and an intern for the Charleston Daily Mail.

Since 1961, more than 530 West Virginians have served their country by serving overseas as Peace Corps volunteers. In 2004, WVU ranks 20th among all Peace Corps volunteer-producing colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic states region.

There are 13 WVU graduates currently serving in countries such as Paraguay, Kenya, the Eastern Caribbean and Nepal. A total of 188 WVU alumni have served as volunteers.

Peace Corps on the Net:http://www.peacecorps.gov/.