In 2025, Pax Christi USA created a new honor for outstanding young adult peacemakers, the Sr. Dianna Ortiz, OSU Peacemaker Award.
This award is given to a young adult (under 40) whose life and work exemplifies the commitment to justice, contemplative presence, faith-based activism, compassion, and prophetic, nonviolent witness of Sr. Dianna Ortiz, OSU, who died in 2021 at age 62. A Pax Christi USA staff member and our 2000 Teacher of Peace, Sr. Dianna had a deep commitment and abiding love for young people, as an educator, teacher, and coordinator of the Pax Christi USA internship program.
Learn more about Sr. Dianna here.
Recipients include:
Joryán Hernández, 2025 – A Ph.D. student at the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute at the time of his receiving the award, Joryán was nominated in large part due to his active participation with campus activities in solidarity with the Palestinian people, including the call for the university to divest of military contracts. His doctoral work “explores how theologies of resistance can actualize radical changes to repressive conditions in authoritarian regimes. His goal is to create awareness within religious institutions of the harm endured by those they are called to serve, encourage them to better serve their community, and include them in the political process of liberating Latinx individuals from immutable governments. A Cuban immigrant himself, Joryán believes that a better future must be imagined, as José Martí said, ‘Con todos y para el bien de todos’.” [“With everyone and for the good of everyone.”]