New York Youth Institute

Want to get an idea of what the big day will look like? Check out our agenda from the 2024 New York Youth Institute: 

• 8:00AM Check-In at the Call Auditorium Lobby in Kennedy Hall: Networking and morning refreshments (enter Kennedy Hall at the Ag Quad entrance) 
• 9:00AM Welcoming Remarks: New York Youth Institute (NYYI), World Food Prize Foundation (WFPF), and Cornell CALS leadership: Polly Endreny Holmberg, Abigail Turner, and CALS Dean Benjamin Houlton, Call Auditorium
• 9:25AM Presentation and Engaged Discussion: Francine Barchett, CALS PhD Candidate and WFPF Council of Advisors Youth Member and the 2023-24 Cornell Fulbright Humphrey Fellows: “Sowing the Seeds of Peace Amidst Controversy: How to Embrace Challenging Issues as a Young Leader and Hunger Fighter”
• 10:30AM: Students proceed to designated roundtable rooms distributed on and around the Ag Quad 
• 10:40AM Student Roundtables: Students present and hold discussions in small group sessions with Cornell experts and local professionals
• 12:15PM: Conclude roundtables and proceed to the ILR Conference Center, King-Shaw Hall, for lunch
• 12:30PM LUNCH: Enjoy Cornell Catering with joining Cornell students and experts, ILR Conference Center, King-Shaw Hall, 2nd floor lobby and rooms
• 1:30PM Campus Tours: Students pre-select one of the 5 tours and groups depart from the ILR Conf. Center — Animal Agriculture: Teaching Barn; Soil Health Laboratory; Food Processing and Development Laboratory; Controlled Environment Agriculture: Aquaponics; Entomology: Insect Collection
• 3:00PM: Depart tours to return to Call Auditorium, Kennedy Hall, for Cornell Dairy ice cream refreshments
• 3:30PM Cornell CALS and WFPF Student Panel Discussions: Hear from Anna Cummings of CALS Admissions and engage with CALS Student Ambassadors and World Food Prize Program Alumni, Call Auditorium 
• 4:45-5:00PM Closing Ceremony and Group Photo: Commissioner Richard Ball and WFPF-NYYI Leadership, Call Auditorium

Each student should be prepared to provide a brief presentation on their Global Challenge research paper during a portion of the day called Student Roundtables.

In small groups during the event, each student will provide a brief presentation (approximately 3 minutes; no presentation slides) to expert panelists on their Global Challenge research paper. Following each presentation, there will be a few minutes for discussion with the panelists. For student talks, expert panelists will be listening for the following:

• Summary of the topic/problem you selected in the context of your chosen country
• Description of a typical family or community in your chosen country
• Analysis of the topic and your proposed solutions/recommendations
• Description of a feasible plan to implement your proposed solution(s)
• Your passion for the topic and articulation/delivery of your speech 

Our NYYI team is happy to provide support as you prepare for the NYYI event. To help you prepare your talk, we will hold student support Zoom calls. Our NYYI team will provide you options to practice your presentations with them on one-on-one calls. Connection information forthcoming.

Ithaca has several nice hotels near campus and across town, but rates and availability can fluctuate wildly depending on local events and time of year. If you plan to stay a night or two in Ithaca, it’s best to make your lodging arrangements as soon as possible. 

Students traveling from far out of town may opt to arrive in Ithaca the evening before the event and stay at a local hotel. We have arranged a special Cornell rate for NYYI participants to book a hotel room at the Best Western University Inn, if interested.  

Hotel Option with Special Cornell Rate:

• Cornell University Best Western Booking Link*
• *Once the Booking link loads, please select your desired dates of stay by hitting EDIT. 
• Alternatively, if you prefer to book a room directly with a Best Western representative, please reach out to Marhea Cain at Marhea [at] twintierhospitality.com (Marhea[at]twintierhospitality[dot]com) or by calling (607) 272-6100. Kindly inform her that you are affiliated with the New York Youth Institute and are seeking the Cornell rate.

The Best Western offers a complimentary Full Hot Breakfast Buffet, Parking, and Wi-Fi. Shuttle Service to and from the Airport and to/from Cornell is also included and is based upon demand and availability by calling the hotel front desk at (607) 272-6100.

Identify a mentor locally that really believes in you. This could be a teacher at your school, a 4-H club leader, a coach, FFA advisor, or even a parent. They will help keep you on track and motivated to complete the paper.

Find instructions and resources on the World Food Prize website. Don't forget to check out the Global Challenge Paper Guide.

You and your teacher/mentor must register by February 3 and submit your paper online by February 21, 2025. Note: If registration exceeds capacity, student participation will be based on a selection process, prioritizing regional diversity across the NY state, upper grade levels, and underrepresented areas.

Got questions? Contact Polly Endreny Holmberg!

• Email: peh58 [at] cornell.edu (peh58[at]cornell[dot]edu)
• Phone: 607-319-6293

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