Please Remember in Your Prayers Alumna and Peace Corps Volunteer Melissa Mosvick

Please remember in your prayers alumna and Peace Corps volunteer Melissa Mosvick

University of St. Thomas graduate Melissa Mosvick, who was serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco, died there Saturday as a result of an accident involving a public bus in which she was a passenger.

Mosvick, 24, graduated from St. Thomas in December 2001. She majored in international business and also studied marketing and French. As a student she had spent a year in Provence, France, in a study-abroad program. The Apple Valley High School graduate also was a member of St. Thomas’ crew team.

Funeral services are pending and will be announced later this week in the newspaper obituaries. It is expected that they will be held at St. John the Evangelist church in St. Paul.

Mosvick is survived by her parents, Mark and Barbara Mosvick of Apple Valley, and a sister, Kristin. She is the granddaughter of Nonie Mosvick and Dr. Roger Mosvick, who taught at the University of St. Thomas and Macalester College.

"The death of Melissa Mosvick is a terrible loss for the Peace Corps family," Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez said.  "Melissa went above and beyond to share her knowledge and skills with women's groups, artisans and people in her community. Her hard work and leadership were admired by the people of Ouarzazate and will continue to thrive in the lives that she touched."

Mosvick began her Peace Corps service in September 2003.  In training, she quickly learned Arabic and continued to develop her French language skills.

After training, Melissa was assigned as a small business development volunteer in the southern Moroccan town of Ouarzazate, known as the gateway to the Sahara. There, she taught English and computer skills to the artisans at the Artisanal Training Center. This year, Melissa expanded her small business work and began assisting an association for the handicapped in Ouarzazate. She taught glass painting to artisans, who then were able to sell their items for profit.  

“Melissa's work was recognized and very much appreciated in the Ouarzazate community,” Vasquez said. “Committed to assisting others, Melissa recently helped 20 small business trainees transition in Morocco, as she facilitated several cross-cultural training sessions about her experiences. Melissa's leadership this summer in the village of Tazarine to train another women's association group in the use of computers helped pave the way for the development of a work site for future Peace Corps volunteers to make a difference.”

On Saturday, the governor of Ouarzazate contacted the Peace Corps staff to offer his deepest condolences.

Peace Corps Morocco also is planning a memorial service in her honor for volunteers and staff.

"The Peace Corps family is deeply saddened by Melissa's death. She embodied the best traditions of Peace Corps volunteers, and her life and work will be deeply missed by all who knew and worked with her," Vasquez added. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.  In memory of Melissa Mosvick, the Peace Corps flag will be flown at half-staff on the day of her memorial service."

You're invited to send Mosvick's family and friends your condolences via an online guestbook that is posted on the Star Tribune's Web site.