Alongside other Peace Scholars from our Lutheran sister sites (Concordia College, Luther College, Pacific Lutheran College and St. Olaf College), these two students will participate in the annual summer Peace Scholars program in Norway, designed to deepen students’ understanding of the central issues and theories regarding conflict, war, and peace.��

Aidan Wippich is an incoming senior, pursuing a double major in international relations and public policy with a minor in peace and global studies. His passion for global politics came at a young age during his time in competitive speech in high school. This passion has continued throughout his time in college, studying abroad for a semester program in South Korea his sophomore year and meeting with foreign members of parliament back home. Outside of class, Wippich is the current president for Augsburg’s Day Student Government, focusing on issues that include campus safety, communications, and commencement.��

Around campus, Wippich has worked for multiple branches of government, including an internship at the Minnesota House of Representatives and an internship with US Senator Amy Klobuchar’s home office. In both of these experiences, Wippich has learned first-hand how to communicate with people of differing backgrounds and beliefs in the realm of politics, and how to find common ground through those divisions.��

After college, Wippich plans to go to graduate school to get his masters in either international relations or public policy. He also plans to continue working in the public service sector to ensure that people’s concerns are heard and resolved. In his commitment to serving the people, Wippich looks forward to the opportunities that the Peace Scholar offers, which he hopes will leave him with more knowledge that will help him address the problems and concerns of the people back home.

Tommaso Maritan is a rising sophomore, majoring in business management. He is from Italy and is currently studying in the United States—an experience that has strengthened his interest in cultural exchange and international perspectives. Living and studying abroad has allowed him to engage with people from diverse backgrounds and gain a better understanding of the importance of dialogue and cooperation across cultures.

At Augsburg, Maritan serves as the president of the International Student Organization, where he works to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for students from around the world. Through organizing events and encouraging connections between students of different backgrounds, he hopes to strengthen community and cultural understanding on campus.

Maritan looks forward to the Peace Scholars program in Norway as an opportunity to further explore international perspectives on peace, cooperation, and dialogue. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, running, traveling, and discovering new cultures.

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Students who wish to notify their hometown newspapers of their achievement can do so at their discretion using a .

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“The Study Abroad and Away Office is committed to making study abroad as affordable and accessible as possible, and the Gilman Scholarship plays a critical role in that mission,” said Sarah Morgan, study abroad and away advisor for Augsburg’s Center for Global Education and Experience. “We offer information sessions, writing workshops, and advising support to help Auggies submit strong, competitive applications.”

Established in 2001, the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program has made study abroad more accessible and inclusive by providing scholarships to outstanding U.S. undergraduate students who, due to financial constraints, might not otherwise participate. Since the program’s inception, more than 50,000 Gilman Scholars have studied or interned in more than 170 countries.��

“While we’re proud to be named a Top-Producing Institution, the real credit belongs to our students, who dedicate significant time and effort to earning this prestigious scholarship,” Morgan said. “We’re honored by this recognition and look forward to supporting even more Auggies as they pursue study abroad through the Gilman Scholarship Program.”

To learn more about Gilman Scholarships, visit . The Gilman competition is administered at Augsburg through the Center for Global Education and Experience.

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While Hashi’s eventual professional goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in pediatric neuropsychology, he’s drawn to teaching and mentoring young people and sees this opportunity in Uruguay to provide invaluable experience in a global environment. “For me, this opportunity connects directly to my long-term interest in understanding how culture and environment shape the brain and behavior, especially in clinical settings,” Hashi said. “I see it as a chance to step outside of a purely academic perspective and actually learn from a different system and community in a real, grounded way.”

Hashi became particularly interested in Uruguay’s program when he first learned about the country’s strong��educational system, varied population, and cultural life during a Spanish class he took three years ago. He appreciates Uruguay’s commitment to providing free, compulsory education and the programs designed to meet students’ technological needs across the country. He’s eager to learn more about the country’s traditions and festivals highlighting different aspects of Uruguayan culture. “Seeing Uruguay create and nurture spaces that celebrate identity and community reflects values I also admire in the United States,” Hashi said.

As a child of immigrant parents, Hashi said he empathizes with students from diverse backgrounds and can adapt his teaching style to create an inclusive learning environment, even in another country. He grew up in the Twin Cities suburbs, playing sports, joining clubs, and volunteering. When his family traveled to Kenya to take care of his ill grandmother, Hashi adapted to a Kenyan classroom with different expectations and cultural norms. As a Muslim student attending a Christian-affiliated university, interfaith understanding has been part of his everyday life. Additionally, English is Hashi’s second language; he remembers what it was like to learn more than one language during childhood and expects to bring aspects of that experience to his time in Uruguay, especially as he learns from the students in his classrooms.

“I aim to be a living example to them that there isn’t just one way to learn a language,” Hashi said. “In return, I hope they can show me their language and their culture. I hope they can share with me the joys of Spanish outside my textbooks and share with me Uruguayan culture so that I can enjoy it with them.”

Hashi made a strong impression on Augsburg’s Campus Committee Evaluation team—a group of academic professionals who recommended him for the ETA program.

“Zair Hashi is one of the most delightful students I have met in my 30 years of teaching,” deVries said. “Every encounter with him reveals a new story and layer of experience, all of which he recounts with joyful enthusiasm. He is an excellent student, but even more, he brings a collaborative spirit. Zair listens to those around him and seeks to understand.” Established in 1946 as an investment in global peace and American prosperity through educational and cultural exchange, the prestigious Fulbright Program has provided nearly 450,000 students, scholars, scientists, professionals, teachers, scientists, and artists with opportunities to study, conduct research, and teach in over 160 countries and territories around the world. ��Learn more about Augsburg’s strong record of Fulbright awardees over the years.

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Buckner, a Duluth, Minnesota, native, played both women’s hockey and softball during her time at Augsburg. She started officiating at the adult amateur level and has gained acclaim as an official on the collegiate, professional, and international levels post graduation. According to a , Buckner has officiated for every professional women’s hockey league, including the current Professional Women’s Hockey League, along with international tournaments.

Buckner is one of 10 linespersons and 22 total women’s hockey officials working at the Winter Olympics, which take place February 5-19. The women’s hockey events start with pool play from February 5-10, quarterfinals on February 13-14, semifinals on February 16, and finals on February 19.��

Read the to learn more about Sarah Buckner’s Olympic journey.

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This national recognition honors the nursing department’s sustained commitment to reimagining traditional models of nursing education by embedding students in community-based, justice-centered care. Through innovative program design at the Health Commons, the nursing department has advanced experiential learning, interprofessional collaboration, and equitable access to care for unsheltered and under-resourced populations in Minneapolis.

“For three decades, this work has demonstrated what is possible when nursing education is grounded in community, belonging, and real-world practice,” said Katie Clark, the executive director of the Health Commons and chair of the Department of Nursing. “To have that work recognized by AACN is an extraordinary recognition of our students, faculty, and community partners.”

The award acknowledges the nursing department’s leadership in programmatic change across nursing education, workforce preparation, and care delivery—positioning the Health Commons as a nationally recognized model for community-engaged nursing education.

AACN represents over 875 nursing schools nationwide and sets the direction for baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research, and leadership. “Recognition at the national level reflects not only excellence in education but also sustained impact on the future of nursing practice,” said Clark.��

Read the from AACN and learn more about Augsburg’s nursing programs.

Top image: Members of Augsburg’s nursing department gather with AACN representatives at the 2025 Academic Nursing Leadership Conference. Photo submitted by Katie Clark.

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