MINNEAPOLIS, May 11, 2010 - Every aspect of our community is connected—from health care, to public safety, to government agencies, to volunteer organizations. Today, collaboration is critical across the fields of public service. To honor individuals who exemplify this spirit, Capella University, an accredited online university* that has built its reputation by providing high quality online degree programs for working adults, is introducing the Public Service Challenge. More than 37,100 students are pursuing an online degree at Capella University (http://www.capella.edu), with 32 percent enrolled in Capella's doctoral degree programs, and 48 percent enrolled in Capella's master's degree programs.
Capella University's Public Service Challenge encourages individuals committed to improving their communities to showcase the unique ways they serve. Three winners will each receive a $10,000 scholarship, or—if they are Capella alumni, faculty, or staff—a $10,000 charitable donation will be made to an approved organization of their choice. What makes the Public Service Challenge unique is that members of the public will select the finalists by voting on video essays that all applicants must submit. Those videos must showcase extraordinary accomplishments and leadership in public service, and how the applicant connects and collaborates with others to make a difference.
Those who would like to take part in Capella University's Public Service Challenge should visit www.publicservicechallenge.com to review eligibility requirements and submit an application, which includes creating and uploading a short video (2 minutes or less). The 20 applicants who meet the submission criteria, and whose videos get the most votes, will be selected as finalists. All submissions must be received by July 20, 2010. The final three winners will be chosen by a committee and will be announced in August 2010.
In addition, the winners will be invited to serve on Capella's Public Service Advisory Council, which helps shape Capella's educational offerings to best meet the needs of public service professionals.
Capella recently launched the School of Public Service Leadership (http://www.capella.edu/publicservice/index.asp), which focuses on a multidisciplinary approach that is designed to expose learners to parallel disciplines, so that they can partner with health care, public safety, and public administration professionals to solve public service challenges.
Capella University is an accredited online university* that has built its reputation by providing quality online degree programs for working adults. Eighty percent of Capella students are currently enrolled in master's or doctoral online degree programs in business, counseling, education, human services, information technology, nursing, psychology, public administration, public health, public safety, and social work. Capella also offers bachelor's degree programs in business, information technology, nursing, psychology, public administration, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella currently offers 129 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs. More than 37,100 learners were enrolled as of March 31, 2010, from all 50 states and 52 other countries. Capella is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Founded in 1993, Capella University is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please visit http://www.capella.edu or call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).
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*Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org. Capella University, Capella Tower, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552), www.capella.edu.
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