Following a 5-year hiatus, Augustana University has selected Maya Madson ‘27 and Ayden Calvert ‘27 to take part in the 2026 Peace Scholars Program — designed to inspire and engage “students to become full participants in peacemaking efforts around the world.”
“There’s definitely a buzz right now about this being back, and I’m really, really excited to connect with not only the other scholars from the other schools, but also alumni,” Calvert said. “It’s a very close-knit network, and I’m really excited to see what others are researching and working on in conjunction with that community.”
The program is a collaborative effort with Augustana being one of six colleges — Augsburg University, Concordia College, Luther College, Pacific Lutheran University and St. Olaf College — that sponsor the annual summer experience. Through an application and interview process, students were selected to participate in the academic experience, which is held at the University of Oslo International Summer School.
As part of the program, students will spend six weeks in Norway, where they will study the history, central issues and theories related to conflict, war and peace. Calvert and Madson will also develop a research project and participate in a Peace Scholars Conference — an annual event held at the Norway House in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that introduces the new scholars to one another and provides an open house panel for alumni engagement.
As a sociology and English double major, Madson is passionate about how social systems impact individual lives. She believes the Peace Scholars Program aligns perfectly with her values and will help her in becoming a mutual aid organizer.
“The program intrigued me because I love to do research, and honestly, I was looking for research experience to begin with,” Madson said. “I thought it was a perfect thing that could guide me in doing research that is meaningful and impactful.”
The Sioux Falls native said that applying for the program was about more than just the research project — it was also about pushing herself to do something new.
“It was a little nerve-wracking, because this was something out of my comfort zone — it was a little adventurous for me,” Madson explained. “It requires traveling to another country, and I had doubts like, ‘What if I’m not smart enough or capable enough for this program?’ But, pushing myself out of my comfort zone has always been a good thing for me — that’s where I’ve grown the most.”
“I think anytime you step outside of your comfort zone and get outside of a place that you’re familiar with, you’re going to learn a ton,” Erin Kane, director of study away, added. “That’s something we always encourage students to do and try to give them the opportunity to do so by getting into that uncomfortable space. You experience things differently when you’re outside of what your regular norm is.”
For Calvert, the program will not only give him experience studying in a different country, but also strengthen his dialogue skills to better understand how peace can be achieved through negotiation.
“Our country is seeing a lot of division about a wide array of things, so learning skills on how to meet people where they are and how to promote commonalities over those differences will be really useful to bring back to Augustana and Sioux Falls, as well as the state and the country at large,” said Calvert, a government & international affairs and sociology double major from Watertown, South Dakota. “Whatever route I pursue in the future, whether that be practicing law or working in politics, using those skills in different fields and connecting people will be important.”
Overall, Calvert said the most exciting element of the program for him is his research on the relationship between peace institutions and how peace is negotiated and recognized, specifically looking at social movements.
“I put a lot of work into the application and research proposal,” he said. “I feel like it’s meaningful research for my own knowledge base, and I can’t wait to bring it back to Augustana.”
“When it comes to those global themes of peace, it’s kind of this nebulous idea,” Kane added. “To really research it just allows people to come back with a bigger framework for how we help people get along, either at the very minuscule level or something greater with policy or things that they might do for work.”
However, the research won’t be done in isolation. Through community and connections with other schools, both students will bring home valuable life lessons and memories.
“Dialogue is something that we all have to do,” Madson explained. “I think this opportunity will help me become a better communicator and help me bridge gaps that I see in my personal life, my relationships and anything where conflict can arise.”
In addition to the selected scholars, Simone De La Cruz Gonzalez ‘28 is the university’s alternate and will serve as a Peace Scholar if Calvert or Madson are unable to participate. Gonzalez said she views this opportunity as encouragement to continue pursuing her interests in studying international peace and conflict.
“Even though I am an alternate, I am still very excited and grateful for this opportunity,” Gonzalez said. “Being considered for the program motivates me to keep learning and exploring how peace is not something that simply exists, but something people choose to build and sustain.”