The Nobel Peace Laureate Project Entries

The Nobel Peace Laureate Project will be awarding 2 scholarships for OMUN2026. The entries have been screened by the OMUN staff but the next step is up to you, the students attending OMUN2026. Below are entries from your fellow delegates with numbers attached to identify each entry. Each school will be provided 5 votes to spread how they choose between the entries on their Officer Voting Form for OMUN2027 student officers. Votes will be counted and the winners announced at the Closing General Session.

The question the students are answering in their entry is:

Read about these American Noble Peace Prize winners.  Imagine you are getting this award in the future.  What for?   How did you accomplish this?

#1

One day, maybe 20 years, 30 years in the future, I will receive the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing the true stories of incarcerated women to light and changing their future.
By then, I would have spent years documenting the inhumane conditions in which incarcerated women live around the world. Women in China imprisoned for supporting pro-democracy movements. Iran's Qarchak prison responsible for the deaths of three women in a single week by deliberately denying them medical care. Brazilian women shoved into unsanitary and overcrowded cells and made to sleep on the floor. I will have forced the public to pay attention to these horrors locked behind bars.
But I won't just document these failures. No, as a women's rights lawyer, I will act. I will have filed case after case that forced governments to confront what they'd rather keep locked away. I will have testified before international bodies, translating lived suffering into policy changes. I will have sat with thousands of women who had never had anyone fight for her, and telling her that her story mattered and that I wasn't leaving.
I will have won the award, but that's not the prize I'm looking for. I'm far from done yet. I will keep going until every incarcerated woman worldwide can safely rehabilitate and be cared for.

#2 

If I were to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in the future, it would be for improving access to healthcare through a combination of scientific research, community outreach, and patient-centered care. My work would focus on reducing health disparities, especially for underserved and immigrant communities who often face barriers in communication, education, and access to care.
I would accomplish this by building on the foundation I began early in my life. Growing up in a family with limited English proficiency, I witnessed how language barriers can turn already stressful medical situations into overwhelming experiences. This motivated me to pursue healthcare not only as a science but as a way to build trust and understanding between patients and providers.
Through my research experience, I developed skills in analyzing complex data and understanding how diseases progress at the cellular and genetic level, particularly in areas like glaucoma and cancer. In the future, I would expand this work to develop more accessible diagnostic tools and treatments, ensuring that advances in medicine benefit all communities, not just those with resources.
At the same time, I would continue leading community-based initiatives, similar to my work in health education and fundraising. By organizing outreach programs, creating clear and accessible health education materials, and promoting preventive care, I would work to empower individuals to take control of their health. My leadership experiences have taught me that meaningful change often begins at the community level, through small but consistent efforts.
Ultimately, the impact of my work would come from combining science with empathy. By improving communication in healthcare, advancing research, and advocating for equitable access, I would aim to create systems where patients feel understood, supported, and cared for. Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize would not represent a single achievement, but a lifelong commitment to using knowledge and leadership to make healthcare more just and humane.

#3

Studies of justice and morality have long been my passion. In college, I plan to major in philosophy to continue exploring these ideas. As of now, I am fascinated with John Rawls' theory of Justice as Fairness, and the idea of the "original position" that rational beings would consent to. As we all know, the United States-- and many countries around the globe-- do not support fairness nor justice in their laws and policies. It is my dream, as a lawyer, to advance the United States's commitment to justice and try to bring society closer to this so called "original position".
I imagine receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for my work in and outside of the court room. I will be continually committed to working with nonprofit groups like the ACLU in litigating unjust and unconstitutional laws (I am particularly interested in the SCOTUS case on birthright citizenship at the present). In addition to this, I will be a continual advocate for just laws and policies in the political sphere. Through lobbying for these policies, advocating for politicians I believe in, and hopefully writing arguments on current events, I hope to spread peace and justice anywhere I can. By fighting for what I believe in, I will advance the ideals of the "promotion of peace".

#4

I have just won the Nobel Peace Prize for my leadership in the United States Congress in restructuring and codifying DACA into a lasting legal safeguard, ensuring that children brought into this nation are granted permanent protection, stability, and the full opportunity to build their futures here. For years, the question of their DACA status has loomed over hundreds of thousands, many of whom have resided in the United States for nearly their entire lives. No longer will they a constant uncertainty and fear of a citizenship trial, or be barred from accessing employment and educational resources. To once and for all provide a legitimate and long-lasting path to citizenship for people who are, in all but birthplace, United States citizens would be monumental. The ripple effects across Latin America would be felt for decades, as families would no longer be torn between countries, and remittances and migration pressure would begin to stabilize. This law will be one of the most meaningful pieces of legislation passed in the 21st century.
I have accomplished this by working hard to become a public defense immigration attorney, and through that work learning the many intricacies of the DACA program, as well as experiencing first-hand why its effects would be so powerful. As a legislator, I would make it my mission to introduce a restructured DACA bill as soon as possible, working with both policy experts, DACA recipients, and colleagues across the political spectrum to get the bill passed. I would also prioritize building broad bipartisan support by focusing on shared values such as economic contributions, and national stability, while also ensuring that the voices of affected communities are central to the legislative process. Ultimately, my goal would be to end this unfinished chapter in American immigration policy and restore the promise of opportunity for all who call this country home.

#5

When I receive the call in the middle of the night about winning a Nobel Peace Prize, it’ll be because I separated politics from scientific innovation. My family grew up in the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and felt the brunt of competitive scientific innovation. While they felt pride in Russia’s accomplishments, such as the launch of Sputnik 1 and 2, it was difficult to appreciate it with the constant threat of war looming over their shoulder.
Today’s reality is that scientific innovation is politicized. The country that’s in the lead has geopolitical leverage over other countries. Whether that’s nuclear energy or biological research, it’s hard for someone with my family’s perspective to view scientific breakthroughs in a positive light. When I hear of a new discovery, I automatically think - what’ll be the global implication? Can this cause tension? It’s our reality, but it shouldn’t be. By encouraging initiative to separate politics from scientific innovation, we’ll see so much more progress. It’ll encourage greater global cooperation.
An example of this could’ve been the Russian science hub: Skolkovo. It was meant to be an innovation center, but politics turned it into an economic mess when they tried to be the new Silicon Valley. It became a political initiative, not a scientific one. To prevent occurrences like this, and allow places like Skolkovo to thrive, I’d encourage the UN to pass clauses alongside my initiative “Science, not Borders.” By mandating scientific panels and encouraging open innovative collaboration, putting stricter restrictions on warfare innovation, and allowing science to be a connection between different peoples, I’d be doing my family justice. It’s crucial to allow our future generations to view science as opportunity, not as something to fear. Progress should be for bettering humanity, not for politics.

#6

Throughout high school, I’ve had the extraordinary opportunity to volunteer as an intern in an elementary school classroom. I have worked with small groups of students, designed class-wide lesson plans, and helped facilitate class discussion on a wide variety of topics. What began as a desire to simply learn more about the career path chosen by both of my parents, has blossomed into a passion to follow in their footsteps and become a teacher myself. Within the classroom, I’ve seen how each day brings new challenges and possibilities for teachers when not everything goes according to plan. More significantly, I have been tremendously inspired by the students with whom I have interacted. Seeing and experiencing the profound ways in which a student’s self-esteem and trajectory in life can be transformed by one dedicated teacher, continues to reinforce my desire to pursue a career in education. The sparkling smile on a student’s face when they work through a difficult problem or the eagerness they have to share exciting news, motivates me to become a teacher and help each student to become the best version of themselves.
I believe that if I were to be honored with the illustrious Nobel Peace Prize, I believe that it would be in recognition for my efforts within the field of education. It is essential that every single child throughout the world has access to a high-quality education, and I am committed to working to ensure this goal. Through my passion for education, I would set up an organization to collaborate alongside local governments worldwide, fundraising for their existing education systems, as well as providing new technology, equipment, and insight into developing a robust and accessible path to education for each and every child. By assisting teachers with the tools they need to be successful and giving students the supplies and mindset to strive for success, I truly believe that every child can achieve their dreams and change the world.

#7

One of my most prominent career aspirations lies in improving public health and pursuing a world where individuals are best able to receive the care they need. That aspiration can take me in many directions, ranging from drug policy to healthcare economics. But this effort doesn’t have to be limited to just one place, nor do I really want it to be. I want to be able to expand health equity and improve public health across the world.
If I were to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in the future, it would be through those efforts to improve global health around the world. This could include fighting the rising usage of hard drugs and rising opioid addiction by ensuring individuals are able to receive affordable and accessible care and treatment. This could include battling high pharmaceutical prices or medical debt across the world. This could include medical research to create cheaper, more effective treatments that are available to the average person in any country.
I hope to work as a policymaker and decision maker to make these changes, and work with experts and passionate individuals to make the goal of equitable healthcare possible. While I may be the one creating and implementing new ideas and policies, I also hope to be on the ground, so to speak, making sure I’m not disconnected from the people and communities I’m trying to help. Of course, I would not be alone in working this goal, but surrounded by other smart, like-minded, passionate individuals, possibly coming from a wide range of different places. In any of these cases, my end goal remains the same: expanding healthcare equity and improving our global health. If I was to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, it would be for achieving this goal.

#8

I believe that I would get this award for contributing to coral reef and mangrove restoration efforts, specifically supporting marginalized coastal communities and their livelihoods. Coral reefs act as a natural barrier to waves and protect coastal towns while also providing tourism and a food source for the community. Mangroves serve the same purpose, while also filtering the water to ensure the health of coral reefs and of the community. I personally think that these two ecosystems are some of the most beautiful and most important on the planet, and need to be protected. Very few people know about these ecosystems and the role that they serve, and that issue is what I would tackle first.
I’d create an organization that has 3 main goals: education, restoration, and re-connection. I would organize initiatives of education including public talks and seminars, both within schools and at coastal communities to educate people about the importance of protecting coral reefs and mangroves. I’d then gather groups of passionate people to restore these ecosystems, establishing coral gardens and planting mangroves on the coast, monitoring their health. Then comes the part I believe I’d earn the Prize for: reconnection. I want to be able to reconnect the people with their land and give them the charge to take care of it. This would include working with local governments to ensure coastal communities have the resources they need to take care of mangroves and coral reefs, as well as educating the people on how they can do so. I think it’s really important for people to have the right to care for their land, and I’d be fighting for policy and laws that allow people to do so. It's easy for governments and systems to side-line the experience and stories of people who have been living on the land, and that's the core issue I'd like to tackle through my organization.
Currently, I believe that we need to establish the personal connection between all people in the land, and I want my activism to focus on teaching people how important nature is in being a provider for us. With the sustainable fashion show I’ve hosted for the past three years through the Climate Change Club, I’ve familiarized myself with a form of activism that involves the community in the fight against fast fashion through connection and redistribution. The Peace Prize I earn will be not just for helping coral reefs and mangroves, but for providing communities the education and resources they need to keep these natural wonders thriving, creating a long-standing impact that ensures the stability of the ecosystems for generations to come.

#9

If I won the Nobel Peace Prize, I would want to be awarded for my envisioned “Food and Art Saves Lives” project. When they were young children, my parents immigrated to the United States after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. But before they reached the U.S., they stayed in refugee camps in the Philippines and Guam. From their experience, I understand the immense hardships refugees, and especially those that are children, face during times of conflict. Children may feel out of control, anxious, scared, and uncertain about their future. My idea is to provide quick and easy-to-use art supplies like crayons, pencils, and coloring sheets with the food packages. In creating art, children can regain a sense of agency and normalcy, and better process and communicate their emotions. By learning the power of imagination and creativity, I hope that they know that they can create something beautiful even in difficult moments. The coloring sheets will include imagery and scenes of their home country and that of others too to encourage connection, exploration, and curiosity as their education is most likely being disrupted. I believe that peace begins with taking care of the younger generation. If children feel supported today, they will be less likely to carry resentment, anger, and despair into tomorrow; thus they will help end the cycle of violence. The combination of art and food supplies will be powerful, as the packages will nourish their stomachs, well-being, and futures.

#10

1. 37% of American adults who menstruate have struggled to afford period products. That percentage conceals hundreds of missed school days, skipped work shifts, and untreated infections—a reality I can’t just ignore.

A six-minute video of a woman managing her period revealed what those statistics meant. Buying pads, something I considered an annoying routine, was, for her, an impossible feat. The video reframed the 37% into a human face. I was hooked.

Throughout high school, I dedicated my IB Global Politics Internal Assessment to researching US public policy and community initiatives addressing hygiene inaccessibility among low-income individuals. I connected with nonprofit founders like Crystal Jackson of In Bloom, which distributes menstrual products and educates students in Fort Pierce, Florida, and Nadya Okamoto of PERIOD., a global nonprofit for period equity. Inspired by their work, I knew I had to act locally. I created free hygiene boxes in low-income Portland neighborhoods, restocking them regularly, and taping signs that read, “take what you need.”

The process was self funded, and my savings quickly evaporated. My mind ran through the material list: wipes, pads, tampons…the numbers kept climbing. I hit a wall; my passion felt insufficient against the scale of the problem.

Burnout forced me to confront a deeper challenge: learning to accept help. I reached out to neighbors and community members. Following their advice, I traded in expensive containers for upcycled cabinets and old microwaves. Donations poured in, and “take what you need, leave what you can” became the guiding concept plastered on my boxes.

My passion for period poverty and leadership grew when people joined together, shared ideas, and built trust. This realization continues to shape my academic and career goals, driving me to pursue public health as both a field of study and a lifelong commitment to service.

One day, I aspire to make period poverty an open conversation for every community. Limited accessibility and intense stigma can have profound physical and emotional consequences. Creating free hygiene boxes made it clear to me that intention and inclusivity is imperative in creating a more just and equitable future.

Eliminating the 37% may be impossible alone—but together, each box we fill, each conversation we spark, feels like small steps towards change.

3. If I were to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in the future, it would likely be for advancing menstrual and reproductive health equity by addressing period poverty on a systemic level. I would aim to reduce barriers to menstrual products, healthcare access, and education for underserved communities, particularly in low-income and stigmatized populations.

This work would begin with the foundation I have already started in high school—creating free hygiene boxes across Portland neighborhoods and advocating for menstrual equity through research in my IB Global Politics Internal Assessment. Through this experience, I learned how small, community-based interventions can directly impact individuals while also revealing larger systemic gaps in public health.

Building on this, I would pursue Global and Public Health Sciences at Cornell University, focusing on the intersection of social disparities and health outcomes. Through research, policy work, and partnerships with community organizations, I would work to scale local initiatives into broader programs that improve access to menstrual products and reproductive healthcare.

I would accomplish this by combining research, advocacy, and community-driven solutions—working with governments, nonprofits, and local communities to implement sustainable systems of support. My goal would be not only to address immediate needs, but also to challenge stigma and create long-term structural change in how menstrual health is understood and supported globally.

Ultimately, this work would be driven by the belief that access to basic healthcare needs is a human right, and that meaningful change begins by addressing the needs that are often overlooked.