'Great Question Challenge' seeks to engage high schoolers in national, global issues

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program and DuPont Pioneer are partnering to develop a new youth program titled, "The Great Question Challenge."

The Great Question Challenge is designed to empower high school students to create local solutions to issues of national and global importance. For 2014, the Great Question Challenge focuses on solutions to food insecurity.

About 15 percent of all U.S. households are food insecure, and in Nebraska nearly 100,000 children are insecure as to their next meal. Creating locally appropriate solutions to this challenge will mobilize student community leaders to identify how to alleviate hunger and increase nutrition in their hometowns.

An April 5 workshop at UNL will educate students about food insecurity and the role they play in becoming a catalyst to change.

This day-long workshop will include interaction with industry leaders, discussion about food insecurity and the opportunity to network with students from across the state. Students will walk away from this experience with improved or new ideas of how to address food insecurity in their local communities.

Registration for the spring workshop is open until March 28.

Following the workshop, student teams from across the state are invited to submit proposals that address food insecurity in their local community. Project proposals are due April 18.

Up to eight teams will receive funding to help implement and execute their community project. Teams will be mentored throughout their projects and a final event will be held in the fall to celebrate the success of the teams.

For more information about The Great Question Challenge, visit http://4h.unl.edu/greatquestionchallenge or contact Shane Potter at spotter3@unl.edu