Johnston Teens Learn How They Can Help Save the World

From a World Food Prize news release:

Johnston High School students Deepthi Akella and Pratyusha Bujimalla joined other top students from across Iowa last month to explore scientific, agricultural and global career opportunities at the World Food Prize Iowa Youth Institute at Iowa State University.

The day was filled with interactive workshops. Students, who had all researched and written a 5-page paper on a global food security topic, presented their innovative solutions to global problems and also saw how their interests intersect with real-world careers, during interactive activities and lab tours on campus.

The students presented on improving economic and trade policies to support development in Nigeria, and promoting sustainable farming practices to reduce poverty and hunger in India, respectively. They were accompanied to the event by teacher Kyla Burns.

Gov.Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa State University President Steven Leath, Dupont Pioneer President Paul Schickler and World Food Prize President Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn all spoke at the event, which was made possible by support from Paul and Claudia Schickler.

During lunch, while students rubbed elbows with the state’s business leaders and other experts, teachers spanning multiple disciplines from around the state collaborated and discussed how to integrate global issues and food security into their curricula.

Brad Horton, a biology teacher at Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School, has been involved with the World Food Prize youth programs for several years and participated this year.

“Students are usually shocked at the extent of poverty and hunger that they have largely never before considered,” Horton said. “By participating in the Youth Institutes, students feel like they are part of a larger group working toward the same goal of addressing food security. One student returned and held what has become an annual Hunger Banquet at our school. Over five years our school has raised $50,000 and packaged over 200,000 meals for Kids Against Hunger.”

Gov. Branstad had lunch with students and also addressed them during a keynote speech.

"Dr. Borlaug, who founded the World Food Prize, was passionately committed to science and its potential to improve lives, produce more food, and eliminate poverty. His life is an inspiration for all of you here today – it’s up to you to set the course for the 21st century," Branstad told the students.

Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, president of the World Food Prize, said the primary goal of the event is to get students excited about the huge variety of career paths available to them, and to show them how they can make a difference in the world. “The goal of this program is to inspire the next generation of scientific and humanitarian heroes to help solve global issues, and we hope to eventually have every school in the state participate each year,” Quinn said. 

More information is available online at www.worldfoodprize.org.