Phoenix, AZ

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

PHOENIX – Debra Friedman, ASU Dean of the College of Public Programs, emphasized the impact today's generation can make in improving their communities, in a recent College Times article about public perceptions and stereotypes of this demographic.

"I think this generation, in research study after research study, has demonstrated itself to be committed to improving their communities. And because of their civility with social media, they are searching for new ways to have impact," she says in the article.

"In my generation, the Baby Boom generation, we were asked to step up and make a contribution to the country, to find ways to improve the country," she says. "This generation is simply not asked to do that because of the loss of faith that people have in their institutions that are dedicated to improving the world."

The College of Public Programs address the need for the next generation of public servants to help solve the nation's growing crisis of workforce shortages in the public and nonprofit sectors, including the Spirit of Service Scholars initiative.

The Spirit of Service Scholars program will honor 30 outstanding graduate and undergraduate students each year who will commit their future careers to federal, state and local government and nonprofit organizations in service of solving society's most challenging problems. It will award prestigious scholarships to outstanding students, and provide them with an extraordinary academic and real-world education, a life-long interdisciplinary network, and committed, effective mentors.

The Spirit of Service initiative will be anchored at the College of Public Programs at the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus. For information, visit http://spiritofservicescholars.asu.edu

Corey Schubert

Manager of Media Communications

ASU College of Public Programs

Phoenix, AZ

602.496.0406

First Url: College Times Article

Second Url: Press Release