Congratulations to the Fall 2026 Ohio Peace and Conflict Studies Fund Award Winners - Ananya Sharma (John Carroll University) & Annie Wendt (Kent State University)

The Ohio Peace and Conflict Studies Network is pleased to announce the Fall 2026 Ohio Peace and Conflict Studies Fund Scholarship awardees - Ms. Ananya Sharma, John Carroll University (JCU) and Ms. Annie Wendt, Kent State University (KSU). We received a large number of excellent applications from across Ohio. We were unfortunately only able to award two (2) for Fall Semester.

Ananya and Annie stood out due, not only to their academics, but also for their service in their respective communities, and their career goals. Ananya is an Arrupe Social Justice Scholar at JCU Majoring in Chemistry and Minoring in Peace, Justice & Human Rights, Public Health & Bioethics. Dr. John Crowley – Buck, who recommended Ananya, stated, “as a scholar in the Arrupe Social Justice Scholars Program, Ananya already stands out as a leader - fewer than 10% of students at JCU are offered a spot in this program -and [she] has served her community through engaged service learning at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) in Cleveland” among other volunteer and service engagement during her time at JCU.

Annie, a student at KSU where she is Majoring in Peace/Conflict Studies & Political Science - American Politics. Her professor, Dr. Sara Koopman shared that, “she stands out as a star student of my career”. Koopman reflected on Annie’s skills of analysis, critical thinking, and her initiative which led to her studying reconciliation in Korea and participating in the “week long United Nations Commission on the Status of Women meetings in New York City this last spring break, sponsored by WILPF which has observer status”.

Want to help build the next generation of young leaders working for peace, justice, and able to manage conflict constructively? Consider donating to the Ohio Peace and Conflict Studies Fund, housed at the Hudson Community Foundation. 100% of the donations go directly to scholarships for Ohio college/university students studying the field of peace/conflict management and have shown their desire to apply those skills in service to their local or global community! To date, scholarships have been awarded to students from The University of Akron, Kent State University, Ohio University and Stark State Community College.

Interested in supporting college students as they work to develop the knowledge and skills to manage conflict effectively and apply concepts of peace in their local and global communities? Please consider making a tax deductable donation to the OPCSF Scholarship Fund at the Hudson Community Foundation. 100% of donations go directly to student scholarships.

The idea for the fund developed from the Annual International Conference on Conflict Resolution Education, hosted for 14 years, coordinated by Dr. Jennifer Batton. Jen and the advisory committee wanted a way to honor and support students who were interested in being of service in their local and/or global communities. In 2024 Jen established the scholarship fund at the Hudson Community Foundation, in order to be able to award a scholarship to students across the state of Ohio.

Questions? Please contact Dr. Jennifer C. Batton, the fund advisor, at Ohiopcsn@gmail.com