Students

The Ballard Center is a hub for dozens of students interested in social innovation. Our students are ardent about their studies, but they are also passionate about making a difference in the world. We help them to combine their skills with their dreams by:

• Facilitating social innovation experiences
• Providing resources
• Connecting them with practitioners

Students are the catalyst behind the success of the center. They are motivated, talented and innovative, constantly looking for ways to improve the world, and their university experience.

Through the Ballard Center, students take part in every level of the social innovation process. They are educated through rigorous classes and events. They test their skills in competitions and on-campus internships. Furthermore, many students use their knowledge to help mentor other participants.

To experience social innovation in action, our student interns travel across the nation and the world. They work one-on-one with organizations to do research, make recommendations, and implement strategies. They are challenged as they try to develop new solutions and change existing patterns. The skills they’ve gained in their various majors add a new perspective to each of their projects. Other students enter the center with plans for their own social innovations. They use our library and research assistants as consultants while they plan.

Many Ballard Center Alumni go on to work in socially innovative organizations. Others work in more traditional jobs and are strong advocates for innovation and social change within their fields of expertise. The Ballard Center is pleased to be providing education and experience to the world's future innovators.