Programs
Peace Scholar Award: Peace studies scholarships have been established at Park Univerisity and Avila University worth $1000 each year toward tuition and books for students who meet the selection committee criteria as follows: Student is enrolled in either university, is taking the Peace Studies classes offered by the school, shows a genuine interest in the peace and justice movement, has financial need as demonstrated by the FAFSA application, maintains a 2.50 or better GPA and is willing to take part in a peace and justice project mutually agreed upon with PeaceWorks, KC. Recipient also agrees to attend the PeaceWorks annual meeting held in the March of the year the scholarship is received.
For more information: Contact Steve Iliff at Avila University, 816/501-3763, steve.iliff@avila.edu.; or PeaceWorksKC, 816/561-1181.
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Samantha Smith wins fall 2012 Peace Scholar Award
by LD Harsin
Samantha Smith
Samantha “Sam” Smith, the fall 2012 recipient of PeaceWorks’ Peace Scholar Award, is an Avila University senior majoring in social work. She chose this profession to “hear the voices of the unheard and to be an advocate in their best interests.” Smith is the student chosen to serve on the Board of the Missouri chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. She says she expects this NASW position “will provide an opportunity for relationships with persons rooted in the mission of peace and justice, and to help changes happen in community.”
Smith’s activism includes volunteering with KC’s Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, MOCSA. In this capacity, she is a crisis responder to newly admitted hospital rape survivors. She purposely chose to serve in an area of Kansas City with a higher volume of rape victims and of more diversity than her home area of Raymore, Mo.
Through PeaceWorks, she hopes to continue her “life’s mission to make the world a better place to live.”
PeaceWorks gives a $1,500 award in the spring and fall semesters to a student taking peace and justice classes at Avila or Park University. The recipient is the candidate who best demonstrates an interest in peace studies and is most active in peace and justice causes. By virtue of receiving the award, the student becomes a participant on the PeaceWorks Board. We are proud to provide financial assistance to such scholars and to nurture their continuing activism beyond graduation.
—LD Harsin of Independence, Mo., a PeaceWorks Board member, coordinates the Peace Scholar Award program.
