Claremont McKenna College dipped into the 21st century technology tool bucket yesterday and pulled out a first: it live-streamed campus events surrounding the 2012 Kravis Prize. From the comfort of dorm rooms and offices across campus, students, staff, faculty and even parents and alumni could watch live feeds of the morning's workshops with past Kravis Prize recipients, as well as the Athenaeum luncheon honoring this year's winners, and an afternoon "Conversation with Marie-Jos?e Kravis," who talked about the Prize and answered a number of questions from students, including how Prize candidates are selected. The high-resolution stream also reached out to iPads, iPhones, and Android devices throughout the day, widening potential viewership with maximum convenience.
Senior Nick Egger-Bovet, who moderated the luncheon program, said the live-streaming was a great decision. "I know there are many alumni, parents, and students interested in the Kravis Prize winners, and were unable to be on campus for the events. I'm glad they were able to share in the experience."
In addition to the live-streaming, there was another Kravis Prize "first" being celebrated this year: This was the first time ceremonies have been hosted at Claremont McKenna College, and befittingly, at the Kravis Center, for some events. Previous ceremonies have all been held in New York.
The activities on Wednesday were part of a two-day celebration of this year's Henry R. Kravis Prize in Leadership recipients, and of the impact that the Prize's recipients to date are having around the globe. In what could be called a third "first" for the Prize, this was also the very first year, since the Prize's launch in 2006, that two winners not just one were selected to receive the $250,000 cash prize for their respective organizations.
Those two recipients, Gene Falk, representing mothers2mothers, and Soraya Salti, CEO of INJAZ Al-Arab, as well as mothers2mothers co-founder Robin Smalley were on campus all day Tuesday as well, interacting with students, professors and staff, and lunching informally at Collins Dining Hall. They were also interviewed by seniors Mark Munro and Crystal Adams for a video that will be posted on the College's Vimeo channel.
The Prize is presented and administered by Claremont McKenna College (CMC) and Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis. Mrs. Kravis, an economist, is a Senior Fellow of the Hudson Institute; Mr. Kravis, founding partner of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., is an alumnus and trustee of Claremont McKenna College. The Prize is affiliated with The Kravis Leadership Institute, one of College's 10 distinguished research institutes.
The Kravis Prize identifies extraordinary leaders in the nonprofit sector, celebrates their accomplishments, and shares their best practices with others.
Wednesday's live-streamed events can now be viewed online as videos. The collection includes the morning workshop on "Transforming the World Through Leadership and Social Innovation," with panelists from Landesa and BRAC; the afternoon workshop on "Innovation in Education and Community Engagement" with speakers from Escuela Nueva and FAWE; the "Conversation with Marie-Jos?e Kravis;" and the closing session, "CMC Partners with Social Innovators," with Sarah Smith Orr, executive director of the Kravis Leadership Institute.
The afternoon's events concluded with a reception for the Kravis Prize recipients, and a dinner honoring the 2012 Prize winners: mothers2mothers and Soraya Salti of INJAZ Al-Arab. Henry Kravis told the recipients during the dinner that he was "humbled to see what all of you have done."
In addition to the content above, a snapshot of the momentous day is captured in this video clip as well.