Student Peace AwardsPeace Studies

The Peace Studies Program offers awards each year for which we invite interested students to apply. Application deadlines are usually right around Spring break, for funds to be used that summer and the following academic year. Any Gustavus Student can apply, as long as you will be returning to Gustavus after the completion of your award period.

The amount of each award will range from $250 to $1000, depending on the number of applicants and the resources which the Peace Studies Program has available. In all cases, the awards are designed to defray expenses that the student will incur beyond the costs of pursuing on-campus study at Gustavus.

One award, The Ruth Youngdahl Nelson Scholarship, has been earmarked to honor the memory of Ruth Youngdahl Nelson, distinguished Gustavus alumna and peace activist. This award is intended for a student who proposes to become actively involved in peace-making in some experiential way.

Other awards will be awarded to students who pursue independent projects which focus on peace and justice issues, or who enroll off-campus in formal courses of study concerned integrally with issues of peace and justice.

The proposal should describe how the proposed program or project relates to issues of peace and justice. The Peace Studies Committee defines peace and justice issues broadly, but not all international issues' projects automatically qualify as peace studies projects. Peace is not only the absence of war, but the presence of economic and social justice. Students of peace and justice focus their attention on the conditions which promote or inhibit the nonviolent resolution of conflict. Peace Studies is not a value free enterprise, because students of peace advocate equality, tolerance and dignity for all people. Examples of appropriate topic areas include: the causes and conditions of peace and war, conflict resolution at local and international levels, global issues such as poverty, human rights, economic development, ecological justice and other issues that contribute to or inhibit the nurturing of peace.

Award recipients will be expected to either file a brief report or to share publicly about their use of the award funds upon the completion of their project.

The Peace Studies committee will prioritize applications by the following considerations:

1. The project is related to Peace Studies
2. The project incurs costs beyond studying on campus at Gustavus Adolphus College
3. Some priority will also be given for independent projects developed by students (could be something done while on campus, while studying abroad, or while working for a peace-related organization)