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Laura Bowman marches to the beat of a different drummer. The beat she hears is peace.

Following Saturday night’s youth worship, James Roynon, facilitator for the Peace and Justice Support Network, awarded Bowman, of Archbold, Ohio, the first Different Drummer Youth Peace Award for Mennonite youth.

“This was an effort to recognize young people who are working for peace and justice,” said Leo Hartshorn, minister of peace and justice for Mennonite Mission Network.

“I was blown away when I heard about it,” said Bowman.

Nominated by her youth pastor at Zion Mennonite Church, Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg, Bowman demonstrates her passion for peace in her congregation and the world in numerous ways. She organized peace vigils and recycling projects; distributed material against military recruitment to her school counselor; and worked with Zion Mennonite’s Peace and Justice Project.

One important project for Bowman is a peace demonstration she organized at her high school the last two years. On the World Day of Peace, she and other youth wear tie-dye green armbands as a reminder of the day. “It’s amazing to see the hallway,” said Bowman.

The idea for a peace drum award derived from Henry David Thoreau’s writing about marching to the beat of a different drummer. The Peace and Justice Support Network shaped this idea as a metaphor for peace and chose to award a youth who has followed the rhythms of peace in their life.

“Emily has been highly and consistently involved in peace and justice,” said Hartshorn.

Titus Peachey and Linda Gehman Peachey, of Lancaster, Pa., received the Peace Pitcher Award from Mennonite Mission Network on Friday during the Peace and Justice Support Network Bible study. This biannual award is given to a leader within Mennonite Church USA who has been active in peace and justice work over his or her lifetime.

According to Hartshorn, the recipients have worked in peace and justice a long time together and now work for Mennonite Central Committee. Roynon called the couple relatively young lifetime award recipients but said they were chosen because together they have nearly four decades of peace and justice work behind them.

The tradition of awarding the Peace Pitcher, made by Dick Lehman of Goshen, Ind., goes back before 2002, said Hartshorn. The Peace and Justice Support Network also gave mugs to local conferences and to people who have demonstrated a commitment to peace and justice.