LISA CATHELYN of Geneseo, Illinois, was awarded the Ahmanson Intern Award during the World Food Prize Laureate Ceremony on October 15, 2009 at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.She received the Ahmanson Intern Award for her outstanding work as a 2008 World Food Prize Borlaug-Ruan International Intern at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai, India.
Lisa explored how the Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-enabled Village Knowledge Centers (VKC) in Embalam, Pudhucherry, India facilitate local women in accessing services and improving their socio-economic status. Her research assisted the MSSRF in its focus to bridge the divide of access - between urban and rural, rich and poor, as well as among men and women - by harnessing the power of technology with its pro-women and bottom-up approach.
A graduate of Geneseo High School, Lisa attends Marquette University and is studying international relations.
The Ahmanson Intern Award was created in 2001 and is named in honor of former teacher and journalist Roberta Green Ahmanson, for her generous endowment of the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute and Borlaug-Ruan International Internship program.
Lisa was selected as a Borlaug-Ruan International Intern after participating in the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in 2007. The Global Youth Institute provides high school students the opportunity to interact with Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates, connect with other student leaders from around the world, tour cutting-edge industrial and research facilities, and discuss pressing food security and agricultural issues with global leaders in science, industry and policy.
Lisa received her award prior to the awarding of the 2009 World Food Prize to Gebisa Ejeta.