Holly Podliska, freshman Agricultural Education-Teaching major, wants to work with youth and integrate global perspectives into lessons about agriculture once she graduates. Podliska believes that once her future students gain a more rounded perspective about agriculture around the world, they will be better equipped to understand different cultures and agricultural practices.
Podliska was the 2015 recipient of the Maunder-Borlaug Food Security Scholarship, a $2,000 scholarship for students who are pursuing an education focused on global perspectives in food security.
Podliska researched farm to market food waste in India for the World Food Prize Nebraska Youth Institute, a research writing and scholarship program for high school students. Her work was selected for the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute, where top students from Nebraska and other state institutes present their research to world leaders.
Podliska returned to the Global Youth Institute as a freshman at UNL to serve as a high school group leader, where she met Chelsea Clinton and Pulitzer Prize winner, Sheryl WuDunn.
"I ended up getting more than just the $500 scholarship through the program," Podliska said. "I have gained a lot of professional experience through writing the research paper and being a group leader."
Podliska plans to study abroad this summer in China with CASNR, led by ALEC leadership faculty member, L.J. McElravy. Originally from Humphrey, Nebraska, Podliska grew up on a diversified farm where she helped raise bucket calves, pigs, goats, corn, and soybeans.