Since it’s founding in 1988, the Vincent L. Hawkinson Foundation for Peace and Justice has annually recognized outstanding peace and justice leaders and given scholarship awards to students engaged in peace and justice activities. The Foundation was created as a legacy to the Rev. Vincent L. Hawkinson, pastor of Grace University Lutheran Church in Minneapolis from 1955 to 1985. He was outspoken against violence, oppression and inequality in all its forms.

SJA parishioners and peace activists, Marie and John Braun, received the Hawkinson Honorary Award this year, along with Ralph and Kay Hilgendorf. These two activist couples were recognized for their lifelong commitment to peace and justice. The ceremony was held at St. Joan of Arc Church on Sunday afternoon, November 12, 2006. Marie and John Braun are chairs of the Twin Cities Peace Campaign/Focus on Iraq, a coalition providing leadership for local activities designed to bring an end to the war in Iraq. Under their leadership, a weekly peace vigil has been held on the Marshall Avenue Bridge for the past seven years. The Brauns have also participated for 10 years in the Wednesday morning vigil at the headquarters of Alliant Tech Systems in protest against the production of cluster and anti-personnel bombs.

Family members(left to right): Becca- daughter, Peter- son-in-law, Matt- son, holding grandson John Joseph (son of Becca & Peter), Mindy- daughter-in-law, Marie Braun and John Braun.

The Brauns, through the SJA/WAMM (Women Against Military Madness) peacemakers group, were instrumental in distributing 12,000 signs protesting the Iraq war. Active in WAMM, they have been involved in education efforts about military recruitment and the right of individuals to refuse to kill. They have participated in the protests at the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia, for more than 10 years. As Polly Mann, co-founder of WAMM, introduced the Brauns, she gave a warning “one cannot have a relationship with John and Marie without getting drawn into their power and commitment. Their quality is infectious.” They are dedicating their time and lives to efforts to bring the war in Iraq to an end, said Polly.

Professionally, the Brauns operated a counseling center in Brooklyn Park for more than 15 years. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Ralph and Kay Hilgendorf(right) “do peace and justice around the clock,” said AvaDale Johnson as she introduced this activist couple. The Hilgendorfs are active in Friends for a Nonviolent World, Veterans for Peace and other peace organizations, including WAMM. Ralph regularly participates in the Marshall Avenue Bridge weekly vigil and in the annual protests at the School of the Americas.

Married for 50 years, the Hilgendorfs have opened their home to 46 foster children, many of whom were deaf or blind, and also provided housing for an El Salvadoran refugee for two years.

In addition to peace activities, the Hilgendorfs do outreach to local agencies including Loaves and Fishes, People Serving People, Harbor Lights and Union Gospel Mission. Ralph chaired the building committee to construct the meeting house for the Twin Cities Friends Meeting, of which the couple are members.

Ralph, who is blind, worked for the State of Minnesota as a rehabilitation counselor until retirement in 1991. He and Kay have five children and six grandchildren.

Hawkinson Scholarships are awarded annually to students who have demonstrated a commitment to peace and justice. The goal of the scholarship is to encourage these individuals to strive for peace and justice both in their educational pursuits and in their personal and professional lives. Since 1988, the foundation has awarded more than $54,000 to 54 students.

Scholarship recipients(left to right): Hindolo Pokawa, Allison Johnson, Br. John Mary Lugemwa, and Elizabeth Canney Borer

The 2006 Hawkinson Scholarships were awarded to 6 students (four of whom were present for the ceremony):

• Hindolo Pokawa, 30, Falcon Heights, is currently pursuing a master’s degree in liberal studies at the University of Minnesota. A refugee from war in Sierra Leone, he came to the United States in 2000 and began volunteering at Nonviolent Peaceforce, whose mission is to build a trained, international civilian peaceforce committed to third-party nonviolent intervention. A member of the Nonviolent Peaceforce’s governing council; he heads up its Youth Initiative and has set policy, raised money, and supervised and trained youth around the world.
• Elizabeth Canney Borer, 23, St. Paul, is a first-year law student at the University of Minnesota. While an undergraduate pursuing a degree in global studies and history, she served as a volunteer, intern and staff member at the University’s Aurora Center for Advocacy and Education. There, she advocated for victims of violence, educated the community on violence prevention and led an effort to change a University policy that left many victims of violence without recourse. She also held an internship with the Girls International Forum researching practices to promote human rights, education, health, economic empowerment and violence prevention.
• Allison Johnson, 19, Fridley, is a senior at the University of St. Thomas pursing a degree in justice and peace studies. She volunteers with a high school youth group at her home congregation, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fridley, and with PeaceJam, an international education program built around leading Nobel Peace Laureates who work personally with youth to pass on the spirit, skills and wisdom they embody. At St. Thomas, she is active in Adjust, a campus peace and justice organization.
• Br. John Mary Lugemwa, OSB, 27, of Richmond, Virginia, is a student at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, pursuing a degree in computer science and philosophy. He will use the Hawkinson Scholarship to help set up a library and computer/information center in a school for orphans being built in his home village in Uganda. The school is one of several projects initiated by Uganda Rural Fund USA, Inc., a non-profit organization established by John Mary and his brother to assist the poor in Uganda. While studying at St. John’s, he has started an AIDS service-learning program and has led student groups to Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda to work with AIDS organizations.
• Helen Pent, 20, of Lompoc, California, is a senior at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, pursing a degree in peace studies. She will use the Hawkinson Scholarship to attend a study-abroad program in Switzerland entitled International Studies, Organizations and Social Justice. At Northland, Helen co-founded the Open Doors Mediation Center. She is a campus activist in a wide range of organizations, including the Roots for Change Club, Green Fire Club and ReThink Coke Club. She has served as president of the Youth for Socialist Action Organization and chair of the Renewable Energy Fund Committee at the college.
• Ryan Schweitzer, 26, of Delafield, Wisconsin, is pursing a master’s degree in environmental engineering as part of the Master’s International Peace Corps Program at Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan. After graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2003, Ryan spent several months in Chile and Argentina, where he volunteered with an AIDS outreach organization. In July of 2004 and 2005, he volunteered in Peru with Engineers Without Borders on projects to improve life in rural communities.

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Rose Grengshas been a SJA parishioner since 1982. She is an immigration attorney and passionate about the subject. She is a member of the choir and active in the Peace Movement. She and her husband, Paul, routinely attend the 11:00 Mass. She is the mother of four children and grandmother of three. She is looking forward to retirement, travel and enjoys music, especially singer, songwriter, Greg Brown.

Note: Thanks to the Vincent L. Hawkinson Foundation Fall 2006 newsletter from which the above information about the awardees is summarized.

Past Honorary Award Recipients 2005- Gene and Mary Lou Ott, Luther Granquist 2004- Donald Irish 2003- Brigid McDonald, Jane McDonald, Kate McDonald, Rita McDonald 2002- Eleanor and John Yackel 2001- Lynn Elling 2000- Marv Davidov 1999- Joseph Schwartzberg 1998- Larry Cloud Morgan 1997- Louise Pardee 1996- Eleanor Otterness 1992- Arthur and Martha Sternberg 1991- Joel Mugge 1990- Stanley and Martha Platt 1989- Marianne Hamilton, Polly Mann 1988- Mulford Sibley