Kristy Ornelas, Contributor

The 2019 Peace Scholars from Augsburg University, Natalie Zavoral and I, will be traveling to Oslo this summer to participate alongside 12 other Peace Scholars in the annual Peace Scholars Program, a program that is designed to teach about and put focus on international peace and conflict issues. We will study at the International Summer School in Oslo and at the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue, an organization that focuses on interethnic dialogue, conflict transformation, reconciliation, inclusive communities and democracy. We are both eagerly anticipating our trip to Norway and are excited to return to campus with increased knowledge and skills for resolving conflict and promoting peace-making efforts on the international stage as well as within our Augsburg community.

In the fall of 2019, Natalie and I will take leadership roles in helping to plan and participate in the Human Rights Forum (Oct. 28 and 29), formally known as the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. This event will bring students, thoughtful leaders, global changemakers and local activists together to explore innovative ways to take action in our ongoing pursuit of racial justice, indigenous rights and environmental sustainability globally and domestically.

Many thanks to Liv Dahl, Gary Smaby, Myrtle and Ivar Olson and Carolyn Schueller for their contributions to the Peace Scholar program and for providing this incredible opportunity for Auggies. If you are interested in applying to the Peace Scholars Program in the future and want to take advantage of this incredible opportunity, we encourage you to be on the lookout for the 2020 Peace Scholar application which will open in January 2020. Please feel free to contact Norway Hub (Bettine Hoff Hermanson (x1378)) for more information, or reach out to Natalie and me to talk about our experiences and what it means to be a Peace Scholar.

This article was originally published in the April 26, 2019 issue.