MINNEAPOLIS, September 13, 2011 – Capella University (http://www.capella.edu), an accredited online university* that has built its reputation by providing high quality online degree programs for working adults, has awarded $90,000 in scholarships and charitable contributions as part of the Inspire Action initiative.
The program builds on last year's successful Public Service Challenge and invited individuals to create inspiring videos showcasing the extraordinary ways they are making a difference every day. The purpose is to reward civic-minded individuals who are committed to giving back in the areas of public service, education or community. To be eligible, participants had to submit a brief video to Capella's Inspire Action YouTube page, and votes from the general public helped determine the finalists. The winning videos can be viewed at the Inspire Action website: www.capella.edu/InspireAction.
More than 125 videos were submitted, with votes by viewers determining the 30 finalists. A panel of judges that included Capella faculty members then narrowed down the finalists to three winners within each of the categories: public service, education, and community. Of the nine winners, three plan to contribute the $10,000 award to an approved nonprofit of their choosing, which are Angel Ridge Animal Rescue, Angel Boy Art, Inc., and Ukraine Special Needs Orphanage Fund. The other six winners will use the $10,000 as a scholarship toward earning a degree at Capella.
"My passion to make a difference in education aligns with my own education at Capella in a mighty way through this opportunity!" said Karen Feathers, one of the winners who is also pursuing a PhD in Education at Capella.
The winners also include Elizabeth Croft, who is working to change education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students; Nancy Shannon, who is dedicated to a no-kill animal sanctuary in Washington, Pa., and Virginia Mears, who is passionate about creating awareness for Lyme disease.
Capella University (www.capella.edu) is an accredited online university* that has built its reputation by providing quality online degree programs for working adults. Nearly 80 percent of Capella students are currently enrolled in master's, specialist, or doctoral degree programs in business, counseling, education, health administration, homeland security, human resource management, human services, information technology, nonprofit management and leadership, nursing, psychology, public administration, public health, public safety, and social work. Capella also offers bachelor's degree programs in business, information technology, nursing, psychology, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella currently offers 135 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 17 certificate programs. More than 38,000 students were enrolled as of June 30, 2011, from all 50 states and 59 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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