Oregon Tech joins global ‘Partners in Peace’ initiative with NCHC and Nobel Peace Center

Left to right: Jørgen Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee; Dr. Darryl Peterkin, President-Elect of NCHC; Dr. Christopher Syrnyk, Executive Director of Oregon Tech Honors Program; and James Zebrowski, Executive Director of NCHC. Photo credit to Chandler Michael Culotta Photography

Oregon Institute of Technology is honored to join the inaugural Partners in Peace cohort, an initiative launched by the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) in partnership with the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway. This program recognizes Oregon Tech's Honors Program for its efforts in creating, implementing, and assessing honors-level co-curricular projects that highlight the work of Alfred Nobel and Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

The Partners in Peace initiative encourages college students to explore the lives and achievements of peace laureates, fostering understanding of the leadership strategies needed to build peaceful communities. Beyond studying these figures, students are challenged to "think globally, act locally" by applying insights from laureates to positively impact their campuses and communities.

"Accomplishing a Partners in Peace project each year will allow our Honors Program students to become more aware of and engaged with the wider world," said Christopher Syrnyk, Ph.D., Executive Director of Oregon Tech Honors Program and Office of National Scholarships. "Each year, we will challenge our Honors Program students to develop a project based on the current year's Nobel Peace Prize recipients. By completing these projects, our Honors Program students will contribute meaningful community service each year, and they will challenge themselves to devise a project that requires problem-solving, furthering their leadership skills, and appreciating that a path to a more positive future can exist through the work of peacebuilding."

This winter term, the Oregon Tech Honors Program is finalizing its Common Read for Peace book selection, aligning with the program's mission to foster civic engagement and leadership. The selected book will center on "sharing witness to bear witness." Inspired by Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki recently recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize, the initiative aims to preserve and amplify the firsthand accounts of those who endured these bombings. The project emphasizes the importance of these stories in shaping a future where the use of nuclear weapons is no longer a moral option. Through this effort, the Honors Program underscores its commitment to complementing the university's mission and enriching the educational journey of its students.

The NCHC's International Education Committee, the originator of the Partners in Peace initiative, recognized Oregon Tech as part of the 2024-2025 inaugural cohort during the 59th Annual NCHC Conference on Nov. 1 in Kansas City, Missouri.

For more information about the Oregon Tech Honors Program and this collaborative effort, contact Dr. Syrnyk at [email protected].

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About Oregon Institute of Technology

Founded in Klamath Falls in 1947, Oregon Institute of Technology is the premier polytechnic institution in Oregon. Offering bachelor's, master's, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Oregon Tech has exceptional programs in engineering, health technologies, business, technology, communication, and applied sciences. Our programs prepare students to be effective participants in their professional, public, and international communities through applied, relevant learning and professional practice. Oregon Tech has a residential campus in Klamath Falls; an urban, industry-focused Portland-Metro campus in Wilsonville; an online campus; and offers degrees at Boeing Seattle and at other sites. Visit www.oit.edu to learn more about Oregon Institute of Technology.

About the National Collegiate Honors Council
Founded in 1966, the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) is a unique educational organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing the community of educational institutions, professionals, and students engaged in honors education worldwide. With nearly 700 member institutions and several hundred individual members, NCHC serves over 330,000 honors students. NCHC offers resources, training opportunities, and events that strengthen honors programs and their curricula, providing students access to scholarships and exclusive events.

About the Nobel Peace Center
The Nobel Peace Center serves as the public face of the Nobel Peace Prize, leveraging the laureates' ideas, work, and causes to inspire actions for peace. Through exhibitions, guided tours, events, educational programs, and digital content, the Nobel Peace Center highlights the work of laureates, promotes knowledge and skills, and facilitates international engagement. Each year, over 200,000 people, including more than 700 school groups, visit the Center, which also reaches a global audience through its digital programs.

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