Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez, former president of Costa Rica and Nobel Laureate, inspires students in the Laureate International Universities Network

BALTIMORE, Aug. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez delivered the keynote address at Walden University's 48^th Commencement on Saturday, August 25, 2012, in Minneapolis. The former president of Costa Rica and Nobel Laureate gave a moving and inspiring speech to invited guests and members of the Walden community that was also broadcast to thousands of students and faculty at three additional institutions in the Laureate network, Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, Universidad del Valle de Mexico (UVM) and Instituto Profesional (AIEP) in Chile. Laureate International Universities currently has two institutions located in Dr. Arias's home country of Costa Rica which together enroll over 40,000 students.  

Quoting author and poet Henry David Thoreau, Dr. Arias encouraged Walden graduates to use their newly gained knowledge to influence change throughout the world. "May you recognize the power you hold in your hands to create a world different from the one you have always known," he said. "In doing so, my friends, you will live your life deliberately."

After addressing the audience, Dr. Arias was honored with a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa from Walden University. This is the second Honorary Doctorate Dr. Arias has received from a Laureate International Universities institution. For his outstanding work in Costa Rica, Universidad Interamericana de Costa Rica (which merged with Universidad Latina in 2010) presented Dr. Arias with an Honorary Doctorate in 2006.

"Dr. Arias has demonstrated that education is the key to a successful democratic society and we could not have been more thrilled to have him speak to our graduates," said Douglas L. Becker, Chairman and CEO of Laureate Education, Inc. "An honorary doctorate from Walden, a university dedicated to positive social change, is a testament and a truly earned recognition for Dr. Arias' untiring commitment to promoting peace throughout the world." 

Dr. Arias joins a long list of distinguished leaders, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, equal pay advocate Lily Ledbetter, and social entrepreneur Dr. Cheryl Dorsey, among many others, to deliver the keynote address at Walden University's commencement.

About Laureate International Universities

Laureate International Universities is a trusted global leader in providing access to high-quality, innovative institutions of higher education. The Laureate International Universities network includes more than 60 accredited campus-based and online universities. Our more than 740,000 students are part of an academic community that spans 29 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Laureate universities offer hundreds of undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs in fields including architecture, art, business, culinary arts, design, education, engineering, health sciences, hospitality management, information technology, law and medicine. President William J. Clinton, 42nd President of the United States, serves as the Honorary Chancellor of the Laureate International Universities network, a role in which he offers advice on social responsibility, youth leadership and increasing access to higher education. For more information, visit www.laureate.net.

SOURCE Laureate International Universities