West Chester University’s Honors College has been pursuing a “nobel” idea for the past four years and is the only university in the U.S. to have a relationship with the Nobel Peace Institute. As part of this one-of-a-kind partnership, honors students from WCU have been permitted to nominate candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize to the Norwegian Nobel Committee to consider.

Last Wednesday, the WCU Nobel Leadership Series (NLS) held its closing ceremonies, during which the student committee announced WCU’s candidate to submit for consideration for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. Swope Scholar and Honors College Nobel Events Coordinator John McSweeney, a WCU junior who is majoring in economics and finance, represented the student committee and announced the World Health Organization as the candidate being put forth by the students.

During the closing ceremonies, 51 student participants were recognized with a certificate and presented with a Nobel lapel pin, as well as a flag of Norway. Vice Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Dr. Henrik Syse will meet virtually with all student presenters and those completing the leadership series on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 1-2 PM.

“I cannot think of a more appropriate time in our history for our Honors College students to come together and study leaders who advocate peace,” said Chairperson and Director of the Honors College Kevin Dean, professor of communication studies.  “Thanks to the very kind and generous financial support from the university’s Division of Student Affairs and two recent WCU Honors College alumni, two special commemorative pins were presented to the students. The Honors College is deeply grateful to the Division of Student Affairs and Hannah Laboski, a 2019 graduate of the Honors College and an associate admissions officer at WCU, and Matthew Leinhauser, a 2019 graduate of the Honors College and a doctoral candidate at the University of Delaware, for their continued commitment to our students and this critical program.”

The Honors College’s one-of-a-kind relationship with the Nobel Peace Institute includes collaborating on programs that help enrich students’ leadership skills as exemplified by Nobel Peace laureates.

During the fall semester, the participating students spent approximately 90 minutes each Wednesday evening learning about leadership lessons from select Nobel Peace laureates.

Workshops were generated by eight sophomore/junior Nobel scholars mentored by the five students who represented WCU at the 2019 Nobel Peace Week in December in Oslo, Norway.

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