(from left) Jørgen Watne Frydnes, current chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee; Patrica Smith, dean of the UCA Schedler Honors College; and James N. Zebrowski, Jr., M.S., executive director at the National Collegiate Honors Council
Photo credit: Chandler Michael Culotta
The University of Central Arkansas Schedler Honors College 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. This program recognizes NCHC member institutions for their efforts in creating, implementing, and assessing honors-level curricular and co-curricular projects that highlight the work of Alfred Nobel and Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
Since 1901, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to individuals and organizations that advance peace, as outlined in Alfred Nobel’s will. These efforts include fostering fraternity among nations, reducing standing armies, and promoting peace congresses. 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.
“I am proud of our faculty and particularly Cindy Lea [Honors College lecturer], for their efforts in helping us leverage this partnership between the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Nobel Peace Center to advantage UCA Honors students,” said Patricia Smith, dean of the Schedler Honors College. “This opportunity will advance our mission of empowering exceptional students to transform themselves and their world. Through the exploration of peace studies, students will be able to cultivate understanding, compassion, and the tools necessary for a more harmonious world.”
The NCHC’s International Education Committee, the originator of the Partners in Peace initiative, proudly recognizes the UCA Schedler Honors College as part of the 2024-2025 inaugural cohort. Smith received symbolic recognition of the institution’s commitment to establish a curricular or co-curricular project during the 59th Annual NCHC Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday, November 1. Jørgen Frydnes, chair and youngest member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, participated in the awards ceremony.
Dr. Eddie Weller, president of the NCHC, commented, “NCHC is deeply honored to collaborate with the Nobel Peace Center and these institutions. This monumental program enables colleges and universities to offer transformative courses and activities that impact not only student lives but also their surrounding communities. By drawing inspiration from Nobel Peace Prize laureates, these projects encourage our students to embrace peace and act as change-makers for their generation.
“Can there be a higher calling than peace? I think not.”
For more information about Partners in Peace and this collaborative effort, visit the National Collegiate Honors Council website or contact Dr. Kevin W. Dean, coordinator, Partners in Peace, at kdean@nchchonors.org
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.
