Public Voting Begins for Walden University's 2014 Scholars of Change Video Contest

- 177 students and alumni demonstrate how their degrees help them make a difference

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether they're addressing challenges on a local level within their community or effecting change on the other side of the globe, Walden University students and alumni are putting the university's social change mission into action every day. Walden's sixth annual Scholars of Change video contest features stories created by these agents of change, and the public is invited to learn more about them and vote for a favorite video online through Sept. 30 at www.WaldenU.edu/contest.

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From the more than 177 videos submitted, five winners will be chosen based on the online public vote combined with the score from a judging panel. Each of the five scholars will receive $7,500 plus a $2,500 donation to the charity of his or her choice. Ten honorable mention scholars will receive $500.

The videos are judged on four criteria: passion, aspiration, inspiration and creativity. In choosing their favorite video, public voters should consider the following: how students and alumni demonstrated that their desire to make a difference drives them to effect positive social change, how their Walden education supported their work and advances their mission, how they are influencing and inspiring others in their community to make a difference, and how well their overall story is communicated through the video.

Since 2009, Walden University has invited students and alumni to help bring the university's social change mission to life by submitting short videos demonstrating how they put their knowledge to use for the greater good and live the university's mission of effecting positive social change.

As the videos demonstrate, there are many kinds of social change agents, and each is unique in terms of engagement, motivating factors and issues of importance. Last year, Walden launched its 2013 Social Change Impact Report, which identified six distinct types of social change agents around the world: Ultracommitted Change-Makers, Faith-Inspired Givers, Socially Conscious Consumers, Purposeful Participants, Casual Contributors and Social Change Spectators. Discover what kind of social change agent you are by taking a quiz at www.WaldenU.edu/impactreport.

Learn more about Walden's Scholars of Change at www.WaldenU.edu/scholarsvideos.

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 50,000 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 75 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.