Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias Sanchez, Ph.D., will receive Saint Louis University's highest honor, the Sword of Loyola, as a part of the fifth annual ATLAS Week festivities.

Arias Sanchez is the keynote for ATLAS Week, and will speak on April 7 at 5 p.m. in the Busch Student Center Multipurpose Room.

The former Costa Rican president and world-renowned peacemaker has been selected by the University as an individual who has given himself "to humankind for the greater glory of God."

"[Arias] continues to be recognized as a steadfast champion for peace and democracy," said Clayton Berry, director of University Media and Communication.

The Sword of Loyola is named after Ignatius Lopez de Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. Recipients of the sword include Harry S. Truman, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Jacques Cousteau.

"It's a wide array of people who have received that honor; the highest honor of the University. It's just run the gamut of individuals, people who demonstrated giving themselves for the glory of God," Berry said.

Beneficiaries of the award do not have to be a SLU alumni, but many have been, according to Berry.

According to a University press release, Arias was elected president of Costa Rica in 1986, during a time of intense political upheaval.

Costa Rica's geographical neighbors were entrenched in a civil war, and at the time of Arias' appointment to office, the country was on the brink of joining the fray.

Arias stepped in and outlined a plan for peace and reform for Central America.

The presidents of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua signed the Esquipulas II Accords, ending the conflict in 1987. Arias was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987.

A true peacemaker, Arias used the money from his award to establish the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress.

During Arias' tenure as president of Costa Rica, from 1986-1990, he made democracy, demilitarization and the propagation of peace his purpose in government and in life.

Recently, Arias announced his intention to run for re-election in Costa Rica.