Media Contact:
Irene Silber
Capella University 
612-977-5544
Irene.Silber@capella.edu  

Capella University Awards Fourth
“League for Innovation” Doctoral Scholarship

 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College instructor, recognized for role as technology trailblazer, receives $50,000 scholarship to attend leading online university  

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 2, 2005 -- Capella University, an accredited online university headquartered in Minneapolis, and the League for Innovation in the Community College based in Phoenix, have announced that Jaime Klein is the recipient of the university’s fourth League for Innovation Scholar. 

The League for Innovation Scholarship recognizes the innovative accomplishments of educators in community colleges across the country and awards three years of tuition in Capella University’s Ph.D. degree program. The scholarship is valued at $50,000, and includes residency fees for three, one-week colloquia. 

Klein is the fourth community college instructor awarded the scholarship.  She received it to recognize her role as a technology pioneer at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, where she is an information technology network communication specialist and business instructor. Klein was instrumental in the development of online learning and information security classes at her college, which is located in Fennimore, Wisconsin. She has involved her students in many projects serving students, staff, and the technical college.  

“Winning the scholarship is a dream come true,” says Klein, who is now pursuing her doctorate in organizational management through Capella University’s School of Business. “I cherish this opportunity and will make the most of it.”

On a personal level, Klein says that she had always dreamed of becoming a physician, but her plans changed after she married early. She earned an associate’s degree in computers and worked as a network consultant before returning to college for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration. In time, Klein says she would like to serve in administration as a dean, a position that nearly always requires a doctorate. 

Capella University and the League for Innovation also awarded three partial doctoral scholarships. Winners are:

·        Emily Weineker, human resources staff member at Maricopa Community Colleges District Office, Tempe, Ariz.

·        Dan Fernandez, instructor at Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, Md.

·        Jackie Long-Goding, dean of health professions at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill and Lawrence, Mass.  

“By sponsoring the League for Innovation’s Ph.D. Scholarship, Capella University is promoting further educational opportunity for community college faculty and staff, as well as recognizing innovative accomplishments in the field,” says Gerardo E. de los Santos, president and CEO, League for Innovation. 

About Capella University

Founded in 1993, Capella University is an accredited^* online university that offers graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services and psychology, as well as a Bachelor of Science online degree program with 10 specializations in business and information technology. The online university currently serves more than 13,000 enrolled learners from all 50 states and 55 countries. Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, visit http://www.capella.edu or call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).  

The League for Innovation in the Community College is an international organization dedicated to catalyzing the community college movement. The League hosts conferences and institutes, develops Web resources, conducts research, produces publications, provides services, and leads projects and initiatives with more than 700 member colleges, 100 corporate partners, and a host of other government and nonprofit agencies in a continuing effort to make a positive difference for students and communities. For more information about the League for Innovation, visit www.league.org.

^*Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, located at 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504, (312) 263-0456, www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org.