Good afternoon.  At this time, I ask the Honorable Margaret Spellings to join me at the podium.

At Walden University, we believe that knowledge is most valuable when put to use for the greater good.  All of us are deeply committed to improving the human and social condition by creating ideas – and then applying them – to advance society as a whole.  For forty years, the heart of our mission has centered around three words: Positive Social Change.

Today, we are privileged to be joined by someone whose career has focused on the belief that education is the primary vehicle driving positive social change.  

Secretary Margaret Spellings has affected state and national education policy at all levels – from pre-school through higher education – during her many years of public service in Texas and Washington.  As Assistant to President Bush for Domestic Policy in the White House and as the U.S. Secretary of Education, she helped create and implement the No Child Left Behind Act, committing American schools to bringing all students up to grade level or better in reading and math by 2014.  This effort raised our nation’s expectations and our hopes – and with over $200 billion in funding since its enactment, it represents an unprecedented investment in K-12 education.  More importantly, No Child Left Behind represents a bipartisan commitment to ensure that all of our children are learning.  By convening the Commission on the Future of Higher Education, Secretary Spellings began the dialogue in Washington, which continues still, to encourage the higher education community to commit to improving access, transparency and accountability in all of our nation’s colleges and universities.  

Secretary Spellings has clearly committed herself to promoting positive change in the American educational system – and we are so pleased to have her join us today to speak about the impact that education and education reform has a local, national and global level.

Secretary Spellings, in honor of your dedication to education reform and to America’s children and your extraordinary impact on our nation, Walden University proudly presents to you the Presidential Award for Leadership in Social Change.  Thank you, and congratulations.