Nicholas Spalt of Millsboro to begin Peace Corps service June 29

Nicholas Spalt, 26, of Millsboro has been accepted into the Peace Corps and will depart for the Philippine Islands June 29, to begin training as a coastal resource management volunteer. Spalt will live and work in a community to assist in identifying national marine sanctuaries, collaborate with government agencies on environmental management plans, and educate youth on coastal ecosystems.

"There are so many appealing parts to service in the Peace Corps. First and foremost, it is a volunteer position allowing me to feel as though I am doing good in the world, completely out of generosity. Generosity is a trait that I learned from my grandparents, and I can only hope to come close to showing the Filipino community where I will live and serve. I am volunteering in a sector that I deeply care about; the coastal environment. I also love to travel, and while I have visited many countries, nothing compares to immersing oneself in a foreign culture like living there. Close proximity to clear tropical waters doesn't sound bad either," said Spalt of his desire to join the Peace Corps.

Spalt is the son of Frank Spalt and Carol Comes of Millsboro and a graduate of Sussex Technical High School in Georgetown. He attended the University of Delaware in Newark, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in geology concentrated in coastal and marine geoscience. Spalt also earned a master of science degree in environmental science from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Spalt worked as a research specialist at the center for water supply studies in Texas A&M and as an environmental scientist at KCI Technologies in Newark. Spalt was an environmental intern at the Center for the Inland Bays in Rehoboth Beach, and a geologist intern at Delaware Geological Survey in Newark. He was also a United States Coast Guard Auxiliary member and has volunteered with the Inland Bays cleanups in Delaware.

During the first three months of his service, Spalt will live with a host family to become fully immersed in the country's language and culture. After acquiring the necessary skills to assist his community, Spalt will be sworn into service and assigned to a community, where he will live and work for two years with the local people.

"By the end of my service, I hope to instill in young Filipino minds a passion for treating the coast and ocean with respect. They will be the stewards of the environment for the next generation. I also hope to assist with and initiate active conservation programs in my placement area, such as the designation of marine sanctuaries, beach cleanup and recycling programs, or monitoring activities," Spalt said.

Spalt will work in cooperation with the local people and partner organizations on sustainable, community-based development projects that improve the lives of people in the Philippines and help Spalt develop leadership, technical and cross-cultural skills that will give him a competitive edge when he returns home. Peace Corps volunteers return from service as global citizens well-positioned for professional opportunities in today's global job market.

Spalt joins the 14 Delaware residents currently serving in the Peace Corps and more than 516 Delaware residents who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961.

There has never been a better time to apply to Peace Corps, and reforms have made the process simpler, faster, and more personalized than ever before. In 2014, applications reached a 22-year high for the agency, with more than 17,000 Americans taking the first step toward international service. Through a one-hour online application, applicants can now choose the countries and programs they'd like to be considered for. Browse available volunteer positions at www.peacecorps.gov/openings.