Cornell's New York Youth Institute (NYYI) announced the selection of 20 outstanding high school students who will represent New York State as delegates to the 2021 World Food Prize Global Youth Institute.

The NYYI engages high school students across the state on the biggest challenges facing people and the planet in the 21st century. Based in the Department of Global Development in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), the program empowers young scholars to research issues they care about, propose their own innovative ideas to solve grand global challenges, and explore exciting ways to make a difference in New York and around the world.

"All of our New York Youth Institute students demonstrated incredible grit during a year that really tested their determination," said Polly Endreny Holmberg, training program coordinator in the Department of Global Development. "We are thoroughly proud of all our students, and we are thrilled to recognize these outstanding NYYI delegates."

This year's delegates are:

• Avi Bagchi, Shaker High School
• Victoria Fenton, John Jay High School
• Anna Gamburd, Lycée Français de New York
• Simon Goldweber, Ithaca High School
• Noor Maghaydah, Lansing High School
• Maggie Wang, Half Hollow Hills High School East
• Thomas Wells, Lansing High School
• Matthew Bink, Greenwich Junior-Senior High School
• Hailey Crane, South Seneca High School
• Olivia Caporale, Academy of the Holy Names
• Kayla Sohn, Herricks High School
• Gavin Poyer, Waterville Jr/Sr High School
• Lola Davidson, Greenwich Junior-Senior High School
• Farrah Cadet, Uniondale High School
• Thomas Stallone, Lansing High School
• Leslie Contreras, Uniondale High School
• Glenn Parker, Charles O. Dickerson (Trumansburg) High School
• Cody Dumpson, Uniondale High School
• Kaitlyn Canivel, Albertus Magnus High School
• Arron Chang, Lansing High School

The NYYI delegates will take part in virtual events October 18-22, 2021 in conjunction with the World Food Prize and the Borlaug Dialogue, the premier international symposium on global food security. 

“Our nation’s high school students bring astonishing energy and insight to this year's deliberations on global food security and agricultural issues,” said World Food Prize Foundation President Barbara Stinson. “I am delighted to engage the delegates from New York on the critical issues of nutrition, equity, access and sustainability of food, among others, at the annual World Food Prize Global Youth Institute.”

"These New York Youth Institute delegates are remarkable examples of a new generation ready and able to pursue the goal of eliminating hunger around the world," said Ronnie Coffman, international professor of global development and member of the council of advisors for the World Food Prize. Coffman, a scientist who has dedicated himself to helping smallholder farmers through agricultural science and innovation, was the only doctoral student of Norman Borlaug, the winner of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize and founder of the World Food Prize.

Each year, over 200 exceptional high school students from around the world are selected to participate in the three-day Global Youth Institute hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation. This year's events will be held virtually due to COVID-19.

This article originally published in the CALS Newsroom

Matt Hayes is director for communications for Global Development in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.