Ankeny Students Grapple with World Hunger, Overpopulation, Nutrition Issues

News Release Submitted by Ankeny Schools:

Five Ankeny students attended the first Iowa Youth Institute on April 30 at Iowa State University. The institute was hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation and drew students from across Iowa who are interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, otherwise known as STEM, the release said.

Students were selected to attend based on essays they submitted to the institute, according to the district. The new program is an extension of the World Food Prize’s existing youth programs, and aims to challenge and inspire students to think globally and consider opportunities in the STEM fields for their post-secondary education.

The following students attended the institute:

• Brea Young, Northview Middle School ninth-grader, was selected for her essay, Bangladesh: Improving Sanitation and Hygiene to Reduce the Number of Waterborne Diseases. She was sponsored by Greg Severseike, World Cultures teacher at Northview.

• Ninth-grader Kelly Behrens was selected for her essay, Haiti: Effectiveness of Humanitarian Aid. She was also sponsored by Mr. Severseike.

• 10th-grader Richelle Manuel was selected for her essay, Phillipines: Reducing Population Growth and Urbanization through Education and Public Policy Initiatives. She was sponsored by Northview English teacher Maureen Hegedus.

• 10th-grader Sierra Lucht was selected for her essay, Dominican Republic: Food Security through Increased Education. Sierra was sponsored by Warren Lofgren, AP statistics and geometry, and Ankeny Extended Learning Program teacher at Ankeny High School.

• 11th-grader Kailee Pierson was selected for her essay, Brazil: Addressing Obesity and Malnourishment through Nutrition Education and Improved Eating Behaviors. Kailee was sponsored by Chad Fickbohm, a chemistry, anatomy and physiology teacher at AHS.

Speakers at the event included Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa State University President Steven Leath, World Food Prize President, Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, and President of Pioneer Hi-Bred President Paul Schickler.

During the program, high school students toured research facilities, labs and other in-progress projects on the ISU campus; presented research papers they had written on a chosen aspect of global food security; and interacted with state business and industry leaders, academics, legislative officials and their peers.
The World Food Prize holds statewide youth institutes in several states.

The top students each year and others from around the country are invited to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute held in mid-October in Des Moines. During this three-day event students will interact with Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates and discuss pressing food security and agricultural issues with international experts.

The World Food Prize was founded in 1986 by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, the World Food Prize has honored outstanding individuals who have made vital contributions to improving the quality, quantity or availability of food throughout the world. For more information about the World Food Prize, visit: www.worldfoodprize.org.