as an undergraduate student, to start a women's college, i shared this idea with my professors. at mt. holyoke college. i got support. i got support from a public service award. it was a national competition. all across the u.s. the four senior students in -- seniors in colleges. it was actually difficult for me to even enter that competition for i felt that, you know, i don't have my writing skill isn't that much to compete with american students and write a proposal, but i ended up one of the two students who got the award. and then with the assistance of the global partnership, i was able to get some kind of exposure to organizations that really care about women's education in afghanistan and then an award that helped me basically find a building for the school. and then later on i started writing grant proposals, national endowment for democracy. the lick ten design development services. so it all actually made a difference. and it happened while i was in senior year at mt. holyoke. yes, i worked hard trying to meet the deadlines and that was the important thing, but in the

an example of what good goth me thinking about this. within weeks of arriving at gw, i was talking to a student who was an undergraduate. had gone to uganda and noticed there were young women who had been subject to sexual abuse at the hands of a militia during a time of conflict. so she founded on her own a soccer team called "girls kick it." they never had experience in athletics and all of a sudden they were joyfully involved in athletic activity in a way that formed comradery among teammates. so she made that basically her life's work to continue that kind of effort. as i listen to these stories, i do think that there are a number of things that come together here. we talked about disparities that exist across the world. we happen to be in the capitol city of our great nation that has some of the most striking disparities of income, education levels, problems. so one of the things we do here at george washington university is find ways of engaging our students who live in one part of the town that has high education rates. fairly low unemployment. we make sure they go across all eight wards in their service projects

>> university of michigan is an undergraduate school does some wonderful work with students. >> stephen does that mean? what do you mean wonderful work because there are some things that all students can appreciate when they go to college, you know, gaining 15 pounds and being in an a cappella group. those are universal. what's like a specific thing a college might do? >> no matter which course they take, it will be for most courses, their being asked to actually engage in serious thoughts, lots of reading, lots of writing and getting a lot of assessment and feedback, and they are challenged all the time, rather than simply taking courses for credit hours and getting a diploma and claiming, here's my diploma, i'm educated and i haven't done much for it. there's too much grade inflation, for example. >> do you think there should be standardized testing to prove you've achieved a certain amount in college? >> in many professions like architecture and engineering for example, pharmacy, people have to leave and take licensing exams, so there are already many external tests. some standardize

forward, an undergraduate of illinois state, caroline shannon undergraduates at michigan state, christine christina the an undergraduate at the university of minnesota, twin cities campus. the students are all involved in a group called -- today leaders forever. they are committing to creative programs for community service opportunities for young americans across the country. between september of 2010 and september of 2011, just under 25% of americans between the ages of 16 and 24 volunteered even once. a thing caroline will develop community service richards to new areas of the east and west coasts and topic specific service tours. shelby will use her campus tubes bring community leadership opportunities to public high school students in lansing, michigan. christina will implement an afterschool literacy program for multicultural students and inner-city schools to give them access to multicultural mentors. these projects together will help the organization scale up by 37,000 hours of service over the next year, and involve a lot more young people in doing this. let's give them a hand. that's a good idea. [applause] [laughter] [applause] now i would like to invite us to the stage,

. >> she is a second year law student and the pressure is on. >> unlike an undergraduate, finals in law school are the only opportunities we have to make a great for ourselves of account for between 85% and 100 percent of our parade. >> students are busy getting the books, stress running high but thankfully man's best friend is stepping in on all fours to bring these there's a little sigh of relief. >> sometimes it is much more easier to touch a soft furry animal that it is to squeeze a tennis ball and therapy. and the pet just puts his head on your lap and says " thank you, i love you ". and don't all of that? >> the unique thing about the dog spot on campus is that they are all owned by alumni that remember the days of finals. >> box play an integral part in the student life. and during finals it is rewarding and refreshing. >> an hour per day, the dogs from this animal rescue foundation will be stationed outside edge of the library on campus. >> i love dogs and i know that everyone in my law school would be so excited about the opportunity to hold a puppy and play with it during fina

i win here as an undergraduate and law student. it still looks good on a resonates. -- a resume. i remember being in a class that i like very much. the guy who ran the session was a good guy. he would do a review on politics. i happen to be here -- he was decidingfor president a third t? marion barry got into some stuff in d.c. he would call on me and he would say, artur, what do black people think about the situation? what do black people think on him running a third time? the first couple times -- the first time, it hurt my feelings. the second time, it's good being offended. the third time, i thought, the chance to say what artur davis thinks. it is an incredible challenge that everyone who is black or brown or yellow or indian has to appreciate. there are a lot of people who are going to look at you and decide, you are smart, but i'd bet your specialty is this. i think it is a normal problem, it limits us. >> callie, let me dig into media. you and i are both people who continue to persevere in what some people think of as a dying industry. of course, the level of competition,

i win here as an undergraduate and law student. it still looks good on a resonates. -- a resume.i like very much. the guy who ran the session was a good guy. he would do a review on politics. i happen to be here -- he was decidingfor president a third t? marion barry got into some stuff in d.c. he would call on me and he would say, artur, what do black people think about the situation? what do black people think on him running a third time? the first couple times -- the first time, it hurt my feelings. the second time, it's good being offended. the third time, i thought, the chance to say what artur davis thinks. it is an incredible challenge that everyone who is black or brown or yellow or indian has to appreciate. there are a lot of people who are going to look at you and decide, you are smart, but i'd bet your specialty is this. i think it is a normal problem, it limits us. >> callie, let me dig into media. you and i are both people who continue to persevere in what some people think of as a dying industry. of course, the level of competition, the mergers, the shrinkage, my fi

undergraduates if congress does not act the current interest rate on federally-subsidized student loans will increase from 3.4% to 6.8%. now, for students borrowing the maximum $23,000, it'll cost them an extra $5,000 over a 10- year repayment period. the nonpartisan governmental congressional budget office says extending it will cost the government $5.8 million and that's just too high. senate democrats accuse republicans of playing politics with the interest rate for student loans. >> when you look at 50% of the kids coming out of college today can't find a job or can't find a job which is consistent with their skills, how in the world can you be supporting a president that's led to that kind of an economy? >> let's be honest. republicans never cared to stop this interest rate hike on students. if this were a year ago, the house republican majority wouldn't have batted an eye about blocking our proposal to extend the lower rate. but it's an election year, president obama has done a great job bringing attention to this looming rate hike and now republicans are in damage control mode. reporter: now what happens on or before july 1st could determine which way students vote on november 6

undergraduates if congress does not act. the current interest raid on federally-subsidized students loans will increase from 3.4% to 6.8%. for students borrowing the maximum $23,000, it'll cost them an extra $5,000 over a 10- year repayment period. the nonpartisan congressional budget office says extending it will cost the government 5.8 billion and they say that's just too high. >> at this make-or-break moment for the middle class, we've gotta make sure you're not saddled with debt before you even get started. >> when you look at 50% of the kids coming out of college today can't find a job or can't find a job which is consistent with their skills, how in the world can you be supporting a president that's led to that kind of an economy? reporter: now, what happens on or before july 1st could determine which way students vote on november 6th. sheree johnson, abc 2 news. >>> and today nasa, new york's intrepid sea, air and space museum plan to bring enterprise to the big apple. the shuttle is is set to arrive between 9:30 and 11:30. it'll then be put on a 747 and go to new york this morning. >>> why some health advocates are making -- asking the makers of a popular detergent to change

it is an institution with 13,000 undergraduates, and i heard first hand how important the rate cut was a time when studentoan debt exceeds credit card debt and car loan debt. president obama called on congress to avoid the rate going back up to the prior level. the sunset will happen on july 1. immediately thereafter, i filed legislation that would lock in the lower rate. as of yesterday, we have won 51 co-sponsors, and said we only one republican has taken the step to join us in that effort. there has been a lot of effort over the last week or so because the president has turned up the heat, raising visibility around this issue. about 45 days ago, senator jack reed and i held a press event with 130,000 signatures on a petition was dropped off at the speaker's office. we have been trying through the external communications with the congress to get people's attention. this is a profoundly important issue in terms of workforce needs, the ability to compete in the future, and obviously try to help stem the rising tide of debt that surrounds young people as we leave college. the stanford program is really by

an individual decide if it's right for them? >> i think that the short answer is going to be yes. having the undergraduate degree will help a studentout of school and there is sobering statistics that came out over the last couple of days that said, you know, nearly 53-54% of students are not getting jobs. we are following that closely in may through october, november, we will get a good snapshot of graduates. but overall, throughout your lifetime, students who have a college degree will make $1 million more than a student who doesn't have the undergraduate degree. theyville more flexibility, they will be more nimble in the types of jobs that are available to them and those who don't have the degree. from our perspective, you need to have a college degree to make more money and have more choices. >> shannon: if you do, be prepared, get your forms in and get good grades. that's the best advice this morning. so we will all take note of that. thanks, rob. >> thanks for having me. >> shannon: voters in one state will decide whether terminally ill patients can have their death wishes granted. is the economy getting better or worse? who

student loans. according to the white house, 7 million undergraduates to be affect it, raising an average of $1000. >> hello, hot guys -- hawkeyes! it is good to be back in iowa. [cheers and applause] can folks please give it up for that outstanding introduction? and i like to thank the university of iowa band for firing everybody out. [cheers and applause] good hospitality here. i should know. i spent a little time here in iowa. spend a little time here in iowa city. i'm glad to my hometown of chicago dates are returned to hospitality be when your football team kicks off the season [cheers and applause] burst of outcome your congressman, dave loebsack is here. attorney general tom miller. [cheers and applause] state treasurer, mike fitzgerald. your mayor, matt hayek. the president of the university of iowa, sallie mae said. [cheers and applause] so, i've come to the university of iowa to talk a little bit about you. and some of the issues you guys have been dealing with every single day. now i believe that college isn't just the best of what you can make in your future. it is the best investment y