Food Security Scholars is a collaborative leadership development program for students passionate about making progress toward a more food secure world. Housed in the Staley School of Leadership Studies, scholars experience a two-phase program exposing them to a variety of experiences surrounding food security, food waste and recovery, and global food systems.
Each academic year, students apply and interview to become a member of the next cohort. As scholars in the new cohort, they engage in a two-phase program during the fall and spring semesters, respectively. Phase I consists of an eight-week curriculum where students meet once per week to discuss a topic in a roundtable-style dialogue. Various activities are interspersed, such as a tour of Cats’ Cupboard, or a stakeholder roundtable discussion.
The Student Advisory Leadership Team, or SALT, is excited to announce that scholars of Cohort II will begin their Phase II experience this spring.
Last semester, these scholars dived deep to discover causes and effects of food insecurity during phase I. Whether it be vulnerability and privilege, the power of curiosity and storytelling, or the reality that food insecure students right here at K-State face, scholars engaged honestly to understand how each of these can take part in the creation of a food secure world.
The Phase II experience
During Phase II, scholars will apply their experiences and knowledge from Phase I in a tangible way. Phase II focuses on a placement opportunity, mentorship, and a speaker series. Each scholar is given a placement, where they can work hands-on in the community on a project that interests them. Along with this placement, they are assigned a mentor to guide them through their placement, as well as provide professional development advice as scholars look toward their futures. Finally, scholars will hear from various speakers, some of whom are K-State faculty, as well as student panel discussions, allowing them to learn from those fighting for this mission as we speak.
“Being a Food Security Scholar has really helped broaden my understanding of food systems and challenged me to think about my own contributions,” said Kate Lewis, Animal Science and Global Food Systems Leadership major, and member of the Food Security Scholars inaugural cohort.
“I attended the Stakeholder Roundtable Discussion, where we were able to discuss the different perspectives on food insecurity and learn about organizations in Manhattan that are working to support those in our community who are food insecure. This discussion ignited my curiosity, as we discussed local efforts that can have global impacts.”
The Student Advisory Leadership Team is excited for this new semester, bringing new opportunities to the scholars in Cohort II. We are proud of their commitment to this organization, and the mission of tackling food insecurity here in Manhattan, Kansas, and around the world.
