AHS co-hosts inaugural World Food Prize Illinois Youth Institute
Introduction
The College of Applied Health Sciences partnered with the Chancellor's Office to co-host the inaugural World Food Prize Illinois Youth Institute earlier this summer. Approximately 135 high school students from across the state participated to explore global food security, sustainability, and STEM-focused career pathways as part of the World Food Prize Foundation’s Youth Institutes.
This inaugural event marked the first time this global initiative was hosted in Illinois. By bringing the program to Illinois, organizers removed a significant barrier, giving more students the opportunity to participate, develop new skills, and explore future careers in these essential fields. Roundtable experts engaged students in scholarly discussions about their individual projects, while workshop presenters involved students in hands-on activities that encouraged active learning and practical application.
Dean Crespo provided a key note address. The Department of Kinesiology and Office of the Dean had several faculty and staff in attendance including Tina Lam, Kirsten Straughan, and Sheri Ambrose who hosted workshops for participating students and David Marquez, Sangeetha Madavan, Eduardo Bustamante, and Jennifer Hernandez who served as roundtable experts. Viviana Kababbe-Thompson, Renea Lyles, Mario Diaz, Simona Stankevicius, Yesica Aramburo, Patrice Wilbur, Karla Chivara, and Eileen Doran all served as volunteers to support the event.
Special guests included: Ambassador Ertharin Cousin; Bob Easter, President Emeritus of the University of Illinois; Tami Craig Schilling, University of Illinois Board of Trustees; Catherine Bertini, World Food Prize Laureate; and Marc Schulman, President, Eli’s Cheesecake.
Participating high schools included: Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences; DePaul College Prep H.S.; Ridgewood High School; Taft High School; St. Anne High School; Latin School of Chicago; Richland High School; Olympia High School; Hutsonville High School.
Roundtable experts and workshop presenters included representatives from CNH; Illinois AFNR Education; Alliance for Advanced Sanitation; Nourishing Hope; Feeding America; John Deere; UIC College of Applied Health Sciences; UIC Department of Kinesiology & Nutrition; UIC College of Business Administration; CF Industries; Kraft Heinz; Greater Chicago Food Depository; Ingredion Incorporated; Illinois Pork Producers Association; Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation; IL Corn; Urban Growers Collective; and University of Illinois Extension.
Sponsors: Several sponsors helped make this event possible including: CF Industries Foundation, Eli’s Cheesecake, Ingredion Incorporated, CNH, Illinois Corn, Batory Foods, Kraft Heinz, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Chicagoland Food Science Foundation, Cook County Farm Bureau, Compeer Financial, and Gilster-Mary Lee Corp which were secured by the University of Illinois Foundation.
Planning Committee members: Marc Schulman (Co-Chair), Catherine Bertini (Co-Chair), Ertharin Cousin (Co-Chair), Carol Josefowicz (Organizer), Sheila Fowler (Organizer), Peggy Yih (Organizer), Jon Wogman (Organizer), Carlos Crespo (Organizer) and Eileen Doran (Organizer).