Pine View School student chosen to attend Global Youth Conference

Sarasota Herald-Tribune | Submitted by Brad Buck | August 11, 20222

GAINESVILLE — Twenty high school students were selected to represent Florida for the Global Youth Institute in October, including Madeline Yee of the Pine View School in Osprey.

Yee and her cohort were selected following their participation in the Florida Youth Institute and research on a key issue facing a foreign country. The Florida Youth Institute is a weeklong residential program offered twice in July, hosted by the University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in partnership with the World Food Prize Foundation and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The program focuses on global food security, while giving participants opportunities to explore college majors and possible careers in agriculture, natural resources, the environment and related life sciences.

“We started this program six years ago,” said Charlotte Emerson, coordinator of the Florida Youth Institute and director of student development and recruitment for the college. “It was a way for us to expose high school students to their role in global food security, give them a pathway to learn about our college’s majors and discover how each student can make a local impact to improve the lives of those around them.”

At the conclusion of the Florida Youth Institute, each student was recognized by the World Food Prize Foundation as a Borlaug Scholar, honoring the legacy of Norman Borlaug, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and agronomist. As a Borlaug Scholar, participants are eligible for select scholarships and internships through the World Food Prize Foundation.

Submitted by Brad Buck