Elmhurst University Begins Second Year of Nobel Peace Prize “Partners in Peace” Project

Mateo Gomez-Bedoya and Netochukwu Kalu stand and present first place prizes for the 2025 SPUR award at the 2025 NCHC, which occurred from Nov. 6 to Nov. 9. Bedoya and Kalu have helped spearhead EU’s involvement in the program since its inception in 2024.

Elmhurst University, one of 15 institutions, and the only one in Illinois, selected for the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) and Nobel Peace Center partnership, is launching its second year of the “Partners in Peace” project. Partners in Peace encourages students and faculty to engage in projects inspired by Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

The ongoing project will shift from last year’s focus on nuclear disarmament and highlighting stories of hope and resilience, as inspired by the 2024 Peace Laureate Nihon Hidankyo — a group of Japanese survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings — to a focus of democracy, as inspired by the 2025 Peace Laureate María Corina Machado.

Machado is the former deputy of the National Assembly of Venezuela. She is an activist being recognized for her work to secure democratic rights for the people of Venezuela. Her work and message is centered around a fair and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.

Mateo Gomez Bedoya and Netochukwu Kalu were both heavily involved with last year’s project and will continue to be involved in this year’s focus on democracy. Kalu shared how the fight for democracy should be important to all of us.

“If you live on this earth, you should care about the values and the foundation of what democracy stands for. That should be important to you, even if you’re not necessarily the one taking the microphone to speak — there’s a lot that you can do in the background,” said Kalu. “Thinking about last year, some people were able to just donate money or care package items to help another family.”

“The whole point of being in college is to learn new things,” Kalu continued. “Take a class, ask questions, and be curious to learn. Leave your stereotypes and what you think is correct at the door, and be willing to have those conversations.”

“The honest truth is, it’s not every time that you’re going to agree — which is fine — but it’s about learning how to respectfully disagree in a way that isn’t about tearing each other down,” Kalu added. “I feel like Partners in Peace is a good project to teach people to be curious and to go out of their way to learn without necessarily doing it one way.”

Students are encouraged to get involved as briefly or in-depth as they can, and the project offers a multitude of different ways to do so. Bedoya  emphasized how this year, one of their primary goals is to start early and recruit as many EU students as possible.

“Last year we probably had 50 to 60 people, this year we’re aiming for more,” said Bedoya. “The goal is to start publicizing way before, and to start the program way before. We want to make sure that we bring in honor societies, that we bring in SGA, that we bring in the fraternities and sororities, to make sure we’re at least hitting 80 to 100 people involved with the program in different capacities.”

These two devoted students, who won first place in the International Studies division at the recent NCHC conference for last year’s Partners in Peace project, have been recognized beyond just their tireless work for the Honors Program.

Bedoya received EU’s 2025 Lincoln Laureate for his academic excellence, including his devotion towards bettering the campus community through leadership. Kalu was chosen for the yearlong Newman Civic Fellowship, a coalition of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that promotes civic engagement.

Bedoya, who lived in Colombia until the age of 13 before now living in the United States, emphasized the personal impact on him and his family. After describing how Machado’s campaign energized thousands of Venezuelans who followed her through cities like Caracas and Mérida, he explained that her recognition is not just symbolic, but the result of years of work challenging an increasingly authoritarian system.

“A lot of countries don’t agree that this is a legitimate government, right? That’s the work she has done,” said Bedoya. “She has brought this situation again to the global stage, and that’s why we’re seeing the situation that is happening right now. That’s why we’re in such a tense situation, because the Venezuelan people have suffered so much for the last couple of years. Who knows what it is going to take.”

Director of the Honors Program Mary Kay Mulvaney noted the relentless passion students from the program have for supporting and advocating for their communities.

“I am incredibly proud that Elmhurst University was selected as an inaugural participant in this NCHC-Nobel Peace Center collaboration,” said Mulvaney. “Our students did a terrific job facilitating a powerful and highly successful project aimed to expand understanding of the Nobel Peace Prize and to promote avenues for peace and positive societal change. We look forward to making this an annual undertaking.”

While the project is still in its early phases, meetings and events will continue to take place for all EU students to join up until the Honors Program’s culminating event taking place April 23, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Founders Lounge. Students can email Mulvaney for additional inquiry or request to get involved.