A Panorama senior has recently racked up some scholastic achievements while finishing up her high school career.

Yale resident Molly Simmons participated with her FFA Advisor Steven Hameister in the 9th Annual Iowa Youth Institute, hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation, and she has been chosen for the 2020 Governor’s Scholar Program. In order to take part in the Iowa Youth Institute, students must research and write a paper on a global challenge related to hunger and food insecurity. Simmons’ paper was titled “Fighting Desertification in Nigeria with Regenerative Agriculture.” Though this year’s institute took place virtually, it didn’t make much of a difference to Simmons, “I also got to partake in a session about how to kick start my hunger career. So I gained a lot of insight about what I want to do in my future and how I want to help feed the world, basically. So it was a very good experience for me even though it was virtual, I gained a lot of new insights and I thought it was a good time.”

Simmons also received a $500 scholarship to the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, where she plans to study environmental science. The retiring FFA chapter president was also honored as the highest academic achiever by her high school for the Governor’s Office recognition, and was mailed a recognition plaque and certificate in lieu of the usual in-person ceremony.