The World Food Prize Foundation has selected Maya Sande of Eden Prairie as a 2025 Borlaug-Ruan International Intern. She is one of only 16 students selected globally for this internship opportunity. The 2025 interns will be placed at 11 research organizations across six countries. Sande will conduct research and gain firsthand agricultural experience at EARTH University in Guácimo, Costa Rica.
This is the 27th year of the program. Inaugurated in 1998 by Dr. Norman Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for his work that contributed to increases in agricultural outputs, and John Ruan Sr., this initiative enables high school students and early college students to engage in projects alongside experts at top agricultural research institutions worldwide.
Students gain firsthand experience and insight into scientific research, development programs and food security policy by contributing to projects and immersing themselves in lab and field work, data collection, qualitative research, interviews, policy analysis and more.
“I applied for the Borlaug-Ruan Internship after coming across the opportunity in one of our alumni newsletters,” said Sande. “And after having read about past interns’ experiences, I knew this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I should apply for.
“Now that I have found out I received the honor of being the 2025 intern headed to EARTH University in Costa Rica, I am beyond excited and cannot wait to increase my knowledge and meet so many new people. This will be such a phenomenal opportunity for me to gain experience doing research while also working to aid the World Food Prize Foundation’s mission to sustainably increase the quality, quantity, and availability of food for all.”
Sande currently attends Minnetonka High School.
The World Food Prize is an international award that honors individuals who have improved the quality, quantity or availability of food worldwide.
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