Center for Bosnian Studies at SLU to Present Civic Courage Award

Center for Bosnian Studies at SLU to Present Civic Courage Award

ST. LOUIS - The Center for Bosnian Studies at Saint Louis University will present Nermana Huskić with the 2025 Civic Courage Award for commitment to the civic values of respect, equality and pluralism that represent the best traditions of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Huskić is the founder and executive director of RukaNade, a non-profit dedicated to helping the less fortunate in Bosnia and the unhoused in St. Louis. She will receive the award during a ceremony on October 22 on the campus of Saint Louis University.

The award was first given in 2015 and recognizes people who embody the civic values of tolerance, respect and care for others.

The Center for Bosnian Studies is the only initiative of its kind in North America - a historical and cultural preservation initiative that creates an enduring record of the experiences of Bosnian genocide survivors and their families, especially those living in metropolitan St. Louis, which is home to the largest Bosnian community outside of Bosnia-Herzegovina, with some 60,000 members.

"Nermana is an active member of the St. Louis Bosnian community and a leader in humanitarian efforts both here and in Bosnia," said Adna Karamehic-Oates, Ph.D., the director of the Center for Bosnian Studies at SLU.

Born in Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Huskić was 5 years old when war broke out. Her family fled their hometown to a neighboring village, but remained under attack throughout the war. When she was 11, Huskić came to the United States with her family.

Huskić founded RukaNade in 2017. The name RukaNade translates into hand of hope. The organization works with St. Louis' unhoused population, seniors and youth, as well as families and orphans in Bosnia.

SLU became the permanent home of the Bosnian Center's unique oral histories, rare collections, circulating materials and growing digital archives earlier this year. Originally founded in 2006 as the Bosnia Memory Project, the Center was renamed in 2020 to reflect its increasing role as a hub of knowledge and resources on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The event is sponsored by the Center for Bosnian Studies and Midwest BankCentre, a long-time partner of the Center.

Register to Attend

Reception and Award Ceremony

• When: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22
• Where: Pere Marquette Gallery, DuBourg Hall
• Cost: Free and open to the public. Registration is requested.
• More information: Contact Adna Karamehic-Oates.

About SLU

Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious Catholic research institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 13,300 students a rigorous, transformative education that challenges and prepares them to make the world a better place. As a nationally recognized leader in research and innovation, SLU is an R1 research university, advancing groundbreaking, life-changing discoveries that promote the greater good.