Youth Program Alumni Ambassadors
Alumni Ambassadors
In 2026, the World Food Prize Foundation launched the Alumni Ambassadors program.These dedicated Alumni Ambassadors foster meaningful connections to the Foundation and strengthen the Foundation’s Youth Programs by ensuring multigenerational learning across our initiatives in an effort to equip and mobilize our alumni network to become impact leaders in their communities and beyond.
The Alumni Ambassadors program was developed using an alumni-led approach in partnership between the Foundation and its Alumni Steering Committee, composed of a small working group of active, dedicated alumni of the Foundation’s Youth Programs: Francine Barchett, Emma Barrett, Chris Barron, Nick Blumenthal, Jana Chow, Shywann Horne, Chase Krug and Andie Pinga.
2026 Alumni Ambassadors
The 2026 Alumni Ambassador cohort representing five regions is:
Chris Barron | West Lafayette, Indiana
Jana Chow | Plain City, Ohio
Jacob Savela | St. Paul, Minnesota*
Destiny Taylor | Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Evelyn Heidt | Altoona, Iowa
Alexander Hutchinson | Manhattan, Kansas
Kelli Klink | Roland, Iowa
Olivia Marti | Arthur, Iowa
Nolan Monaghan | St. Louis, Missouri*
Morgan Smith | Nevada, Iowa
Srijani Datta | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pranav Mettu | Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Andie Pinga | New York City, New York*
Raena Prude | Ithaca, New York
Risha Shetye | Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Alani Haile | Daytona Beach, Florida
Shywann Horne | Waycross, Georgia
Riya Kalluvila | Hubertus, Wisconsin
Angel Lindsey | Stockbridge, Georgia*
Ariadne Pappa | College Station, Texas
Tara Ross | Lamar, Arkansas*
Maya Sande | Eden Prairie, Minnesota
*Indicates Team Lead
Learn how to join the next cohort of Alumni Ambassadors.
Eligibility Requirements
Any person engaged in Foundation service or Youth Program opportunities (Global Youth Institute, Borlaug-Ruan Intern, Wallace-Carver Fellow, Board of Reviewers, Reserve Corps, George Washington Carver/Foundation Intern, Global Expert, State Youth Institute participant or volunteer, etc.) is eligible to apply.
It is preferred that alumni ambassadors have prior participation in 3 – 4 Foundation opportunities, as listed above, and are currently enrolled in a higher education institution or consider themselves an early career professional.
Applications for the 2027 cohort will open in October 2026.
Structure & Responsibilities
The annual cohort will consist of five Ambassador teams representing each of the following United States regions: Northeast, South, Great Lakes, Midwest and Virtual (to represent remaining U.S. states and international regions. Each region will have 3 – 5 team members and one lead, assigned by the Foundation.
Alumni Ambassadors are expected to provide a one year commitment during which time they will work in their team to develop and strengthen regional World Food Prize Foundation alumni networks through communication efforts and events. This includes organizing and leading at least one regional alumni engagement event, representing the Foundation at local Youth Institutes or other events as needed, participating in regular regional team meetings (biweekly or monthly, as determined by regional leadership) and collaborating with regional team members and the national Ambassador cohort as a whole.
