MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Walden University Scholars of Change focus on the future, whether they are transforming the way children learn, mentoring, or improving living conditions for others. More than 175 Walden University students and alumni submitted inspiring videos of social change in their communities for the university’s 2014 Scholars of Change video contest. These scholars—along with hundreds of their fellow video contributors—are supporting Walden’s mission by putting their knowledge to use for the greater good.
Five scholars each received $7,500 plus a $2,500 donation to the charity of their choice. The 2014 Scholars of Change are:
- Jazmin Chi-Aguillon, B.S. in Business Administration graduate from Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico. She founded LevGrow, an organization that improves education for children by transforming how they learn culture and values through stories, games, interactive toys and animated videos. Her charity donation will go to Shanxi University in China.
- Heather Hefner, Ph.D. in Psychology graduate from Cortland, Ohio. A clinical psychologist, she partners with Refuge, an after-school program run primarily by volunteers who donate their time for the sole purpose of mentoring, to provide mental health support for children in her community. Her charity donation will go to Refuge.
- Benjamin Isaac, Doctor of Education student from Augusta, Georgia. Inspired by his daughter, who has cerebral palsy, he is creating an animated show featuring children with special needs with the goal to positively impact and influence children with special needs. His charity donation will go to the T.W. Josey Comprehensive High School.
- Dorsey Kendrick, Ph.D. in Education graduate from New Haven, Connecticut. As president of Gateway Community College, she works to impact its more than 8,000 students and connect the college to the surrounding community. Her charity donation will go to the Gateway Community College Foundation.
- Carol Zoffinger, Ph.D. in Human Services student from Lakeland, Florida. As founder of the nonprofit organization Zoe’s Journey, she provides a safe place to help women and their children rebuild their lives after addiction, incarceration or homelessness, changing generations to come. Her charity donation will go to Zoe’s Journey.
Other inspiring stories of social change from Walden students and alumni include 10 additional scholars, who each received $500.
- Joy Bliss, Ph.D. in Management graduate from Honolulu. She took nursing students to impoverished Micronesia to provide needed healthcare.
- Yvette Castell, Doctor of Business Administration student from Kingston, Jamaica. She volunteers in her Jamaican community as a teacher and mentor.
- Lynn Cockburn, Ph.D. in Public Health and Master of Public Health graduate from Toronto. She is improving services for people with disabilities in Africa.
- Karanja Crews, Doctor of Education student from Portland, Oregon. He turns his passion for hip-hop music into an innovative literacy program.
- Bobby Gueh, Ed.S. in College Teaching and Learning student from Buford, Georgia. He led a summer enrichment program for children in Liberia.
- Lal Gunasinghe, Doctor of Business Administration graduate from Singapore. He is improving the English curriculum at a remote Sri Lankan school.
- Kelly Kelley, M.S. in Education graduate from Fort Collins, Colorado. She opened a coffee shop with a mission of providing jobs for the homeless.
- Natasha LaBeaud, Ph.D. in Public Health student from San Diego. She couples her love for running with a passion to prevent childhood obesity.
- Candice McDonald, Ph.D. in Human Services student from Salem, Ohio. A volunteer EMT and firefighter, she creates positive social change in the fire service.
- Martina St-Germain Auguste, B.S. in Public Health student from Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. She provides clean water and improves living conditions in Haiti.
All 15 Scholars of Change videos are available for viewing online at www.WaldenU.edu/scholarsvideos.
The Scholars of Change program began in 2009 when Walden invited students and alumni to submit short videos showing how they were applying their Walden education and experience to create positive social change in their communities and around the globe.
About Walden University
For more than 40 years, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 47,800 students from all 50 states and more than 150 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees online at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network—a global network of more than 80 campus-based and online universities in 29 countries.
Walden offers more than 80 degree programs with more than 370 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, social work, education, public health, nursing, public administration and information technology. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org.
