DES MOINES -- Zachary Stewart, a 2007 graduate of Harlan High School who now attends Creighton University, was one of two individuals presented with prestigious awards at the World Food Prize Institute last week, for his work as Borlaug-Ruan International Interns in the summer of 2007.
      Stewart, who received the John Chrystal Award, worked at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Nairobi, Kenya.
      Zachary worked in the center's human health program on the control of malaria vectors, which is based on Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. Stewart is currently a sophomore at Creighton University focusing on a double major of Chemistry and Biology under the Pre-Medicine program.
      Steward was selected as a Borlaug-Ruan International intern after completing the World Food Prize Youth Institute in October of 2006. He was sent on an eight-week all-expenses-paid internship by the World Food Prize Foundation.
      The Youth Institute, a prerequisite for international internship eligibility, exposes young Iowans to opportunities associated with careers in food, agriculture and natural resource disciplines. Youth Institute participants interact with World Food Prize Laureates and Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug to discuss issues of food security throughout the world. The 2008 Youth Institute was held October 16-18 in Des Moines.
      The Chrystal Award was created in 2001, and is named in the spirit of John Chrystal's commitment to enriching Iowa's relationship with the world and his belief that everyone is entitled to a sense of dignity and adequate food.
      The awards was given prior to the awarding of the 2008 World Food Prize to former United States Senators Bob Dole and George McGovern for their collaborative leadership that has encouraged a global commitment to school feeding programs.