Undergraduate Sustainability Case Competition Focuses on Food Insecurity
The Undergraduate Sustainable Business Case Competition welcomed this year's applicants last week. The competition allows students to work on a cross-disciplinary team in order to use business and markets to solve real-world social justice and environmental conservation challenges.
Since its inception in 2013, over 1,200 students have been reached by the fall graduate student and spring undergraduate student case competitions. Student teams that make it to the final round will have the opportunity to network with a unique community of peers and professionals, learn about graduate programs to further their education, and interact with some of today's leading sustainability and social impact leaders.
Student teams consist of four to five members, two of whom are required to be business majors. In becoming experts on the subject matter, students can expect an enriching experience and the opportunity to work with the industry's leading critical thinkers.
This year's competition will focus on food insecurity with student teams applying the issue to their local community. According to Feeding America, food insecurity affects over 34 million people in the United States, of which 9 million are children. Food insecurity is found in rural and urban communities, among the very young and very old, and even on college campuses. Despite its widespread nature, however, food insecurity is not evenly distributed. Higher levels of food insecurity and hunger are found in African American, Latino, and Native American communities due to systemic racial injustice that has led to reduced access to consistent, quality nutrition among other barriers.
We believe that business can and will play a role in addressing food insecurity.
Teams will vie for the top three positions, with prizes of $3,000 (First Place), $2,000 (Second Place), and $1,000 (Third Place). Finals will take place on March 31.
This year's judges include:
Charlene Chester, Assistant Dean for Administration and Outreach, College of Liberal Arts, Morgan State University
Leanne Lenz, Associate Director, Student Care and Advocacy, Penn State University
Tom Stone, Associate Teaching Professor and Business Program Chair, Penn State Abington
Rhonda Shields, Associate Registrar, Morgan State University
Lance Breitstein, Founder, Impact Competition
Please direct any questions regarding the Case Competition to smealsustainability@psu.edu.