CALS Council Senior Awardee: Battles prioritizes putting others first

nicolerh — Mon, 09 May 2022 13:40:51 +0000

Nick Battles has a broad worldview and a narrow life goal: to advocate the right to food and nutrition for all. Through academics, internships and international travel, Battles found his voice at Iowa State University. When he graduates, he is determined for his words to be heard across the country.

Battles, senior in global resource systems and agriculture and society, is the recipient of the spring 2022 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Council Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion Award. This honor has been long in the making, and it began with Battles’ participation in the World Food Prize Foundation’s Iowa Youth Institute as a high school student. That is where he discovered the desire to address and work toward ending world hunger.

After the event, Battles was accepted to the Borlaug–Ruan International Internship program the summer before becoming a Cyclone. He went to Haryana, India, to conduct research on agricultural practices with the potential to improve food security among the area’s population. He was inspired by the internship, and it was essentially the foundation for his college education.

“The two months I spent in India solidified what I wanted to do,” Battles said. “I realized I wanted there to be a theme of anti-hunger work throughout my career, and I tried to tailor my experience at Iowa State to match that ambition.”

As a sophomore, Battles was chosen as one of two Iowa State students to be the first to study at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. During his semester abroad, Battles’ coursework focused on international agricultural policy. His classes were filled with students of various nationalities, and Battles said this challenged him to view the global food system from different perspectives.

In between his trips overseas, Battles remained actively involved at Iowa State. He is a CALS Ambassador and was an employee for New Student Programs, where he served as a Cyclone Aide, a Cyclone Aide Advisor and a team leader for Destination Iowa State.

“Working with New Student Programs taught me so much about the fundamentals of leadership, public speaking, and connecting with others and working with them,” Battles said. “I found that one of my strengths is empowering people to be their best selves and motivating them.”

Additionally, Catherine Swoboda, assistant teaching professor of horticulture, said Battles spends time serving others on campus and in the Ames community.

“Nick’s commitment to service and volunteerism – especially concerning food security – is constant,” Swoboda said. “He has volunteered with Food at First, Habitat for Humanity, and is currently working with Iowa State’s Students Helping Our Peers (SHOP) food pantry.”

Swoboda noted Battles is dedicated to giving back to the organization that originally brought him to Iowa State, as well. Since 2017, Battles has volunteered as a group leader or a student coordinator at every World Food Prize Global Youth Institute.

All of these notable characteristics will be instrumental as Battles enters his professional career. After serving as a Zero Hunger Intern last summer for the Congressional Hunger Center in Washington, D.C., he was placed with the Food and Research Action Center. He has been working remotely as a legislative aide for the organization during the school year. Upon graduation, Battles plans on moving to the nation’s capital to pursue similar work for a non-profit organization.

But his dreams don’t stop there.

Battles aspires to run for elected office when he is eligible – whether it be on the local, state or national level. His ambition to be a leading figure is rooted in his passion to end hunger and reinforces the objectives of the Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion Award.

“Treating food and nutrition as a human right will be my priority because these things are the foundation for everyone’s success in life,” Battles said. “People need food to be their best selves and contribute to those around them, and that will be my focus.”

^{Original story posted, https://www.cals.iastate.edu/features/2022/cals-council-senior-awardee-b...}

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Nick Battles

CALS Council Senior Award

Wageningen University and Research

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Amber Friedrichsen

CALS Council Senior Awardee: 'Things just kept falling into place' for Hoffman

nicolerh — Wed, 04 May 2022 16:43:31 +0000

Belinda Hoffman is a service-minded individual. From time spent in Uganda to making sure international students feel welcome at Iowa State University, it’s no surprise Hoffman was named the spring 2022 CALS Council Outstanding Senior awardee.

Hoffman, senior in global resource systems and dietetics, visited Iowa State University as an open option prospective student, knowing she was interested in service and wanted to study abroad. During her visit, she learned about the global resource systems major and talked to faculty and advisors about the program.

“I loved that it had so many components and programs that would allow me to travel abroad,” Hoffman said. So, she declared global resource systems as her major.

She spent the fall 2018 semester in Uganda, taking part in the Semester Along the Nile program. While there, she worked with Nutrition Education Center clients to propose ways to increase yield potential of crops grown in the area. She also experimented with soil health and fertilization methods in demonstration gardens at the Mpirigiti Training Center.

It was while conducting this work she saw the connection between nutrition and agriculture, prompting her to add her second major, dietetics.

Back at Iowa State, Hoffman’s friend and former student, Alyssa Dougherty (’20 dietetics, global resource systems), encouraged Hoffman to get involved in the campus food pantry, Students Helping Our Peers (SHOP). Dougherty also invited Hoffman to join International Friendship Connection, a fellowship of international Christians and friends who welcome international students, scholars and their families to Iowa and make them feel at home in Ames.

Hoffman said through her involvement in these student organizations, she has been able to build connections with others and cultivate intentional relationships that will prove beneficial in the future.

“Things just kept falling into place and I kept meeting these people who encouraged me to get involved in various organizations because they thought they aligned with my interests,” Hoffman said.

Belinda Hoffman traveled to Uganda to take part in the Semester Along the Nile Program. While there, she experimented with soil health and fertilization methods in demonstration gardens at the Mpirigiti Training Center.

Catherine Swoboda, assistant teaching professor in horticulture, said Hoffman’s passion for serving others “exemplifies CALS’ mission to enhance the quality of life in Iowa and the world.”

“Belinda’s whole-hearted dedication to service shapes all she does, wherever she finds herself – from Iowa State to rural Uganda,” Swoboda said. “Since she first stepped foot on campus, Belinda has committed all aspects of her experience in CALS – academic, leadership and personal – to service.”

When considering what she is most proud of from her time at Iowa State, Hoffman said it is the unmeasurable things, such as the way SHOP student leaders have come together to expand the food pantry and how she’s learned to work alongside people from different backgrounds.

“Don’t underestimate the value of an experience,” Hoffman said. “I think the most valuable experiences I’ve had are ones that not everyone has had, such as being in clubs that may not be as popular as others. These experiences have holistically shaped me into who I am today.”

Following graduation, Hoffman said she is going to remain in Ames and “take a breath” before deciding her next step. Ideally, she’d like to become involved with a nonprofit organization in an area related to service, ministry, nutrition or agriculture.

^{Orignal story posted, https://www.cals.iastate.edu/features/2022/cals-council-senior-awardee-t...}

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Semester Along the Nile

CALS Council Senior Award

Belinda Hoffman

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Whitney Baxter

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CALS Council Senior Awardee: Battles prioritizes putting others first

CALS Council Senior Awardee: 'Things just kept falling into place' for Hoffman

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