Grammy Award-winning singer Shakira was honoured by Harvard University on Saturday with its 2011 Artist of the Year award, according to CTV News.

The Harvard Foundation, the university’s centre for intercultural and science initiatives, honoured Shakira for her charitable contributions and “distinguished history of creativity,” said foundation director S. Allen Counter.

Shakira, who has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, accepted the award in person and challenged Harvard students to do more to improve education in developing countries. Shakira is a proud founder of the Barefoot Foundation, which aims to provide education and nutrition to children in poor-conditioned areas of her native Colombia. She is also a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador.

Previous winners of the Harvard award include Sharon Stone, Will Smith, Jackie Chan and Herbie Hancock, just to name a few.

It makes me glad when celebrities do good with their fame and use their notoriety to solve bigger issues. Not only am I a fan of Shakira’s music, but I am a huge fan of her as a person. If you have all that time and money to throw around, you might as well help solve a world crisis or two. Her hips may not lie, but those who call her ‘just another music star’ sure do.

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Selena Gomez is a philanthropic pop princess.

According to perezhilton.com, The Wizards of Waverly Place star recently returned from a trip to Ghana, where she was visiting the West African country as part of her duty as an ambassador for UNICEF. Gomez is the youngest-ever agent in the foundations history.

“I got to meet teens, I got to meet children, I got to meet families… It was completely life-changing and eye-opening,” said Gomez on her travels.

Selena, who hopes to earn $1 million for the foundation by the year’s end, has gladly taken on the role as an inspiration for both friends and fans alike.

“…I feel very honored to have a voice that kids listen to and take into consideration,” Gomez graciously admitted. “I had people on my tour asking me where IS Ghana, and they Googled it … and because I went there, they now know where Ghana is. So it’s pretty incredible.”

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance