Recognizing a Rising Young Leader: Announcing the 2025 Borlaug-Ruan Internship Excellence Award Winner
Published by World Food Prize Foundation
Each year, the World Food Prize Foundation recognizes one outstanding student’s accomplishments and performance as an intern with the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship as an indication of the Foundation’s commitment to continuing to empower and invest in youth.
After an impactful summer of hands-on learning and immersive experiences, one intern was selected to win the Internship Excellence Award for her outstanding internship report, personal and professional growth during her internship and commitment to cross-cultural understanding and impact during her Borlaug-Ruan International Internship. This year, Ariadne Pappa, intern at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India, has won the Internship Excellence Award.
“During her internship, Ariadne fully embodied the values of Dr. Norman Borlaug - service, dedication to global food security and scientific excellence,” said Renee Cooper, Senior Manager of Global Youth Programs & Partnerships. “Beyond her commitment to research, Ariadne carried a spirit of global citizenship, fostering collaboration among peers and contributing knowledge exchange across cultures, and was an excellent ambassador of the World Food Prize Foundation.”
Since 1998, the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship has placed 447 students at top research centers worldwide, offering hands-on opportunities to work with leading scientists. This unique program prepares students for careers in science, agriculture and global development, focusing on solving critical issues like food security and environmental sustainability.
“The Borlaug-Ruan International Internship changed the way I see the world and my place in it,” said Ariadne. “Through my policy research, I learned that even small ideas can have the power to shift precedent and create hope where it’s needed most. Truthfully, receiving the Internship Excellence Award is not just a personal achievement, but a reminder of our shared duty to use what we learn to make a real difference in the world. Following Dr Norman Borlaug’s vision, I hope that through efforts like mine and those of others, we can restore systems that have long been neglected and build a future where access to food is a basic right, not a privilege.”
In addition to hands-on research experience and cultural immersion, a crucial aspect of the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship is the mentorship interns receive from world-renowned scientists and policymakers at leading research and development organizations around the world. This year, Padmaja Ravula, who was Ariadne's mentor at ICRISAT, was awarded the World Food Prize Foundation Inspiring the Next Generation Award presented at DialogueNEXT India.
“Ariadne consistently displayed enthusiasm, curiosity, and a growth mindset throughout the internship,” said Ravula, ICRISAT Principal Scientist and mentor of Ariadne Pappa. “With her leadership, professionalism, and deep passion for sustainable agriculture and nutrition equity, Ariadne has not only advanced the goals of the internship but also inspired those around her. She truly stands out as a deserving recipient of the Internship Excellence Award.”
The Foundation is committed to empowering and recognizing outstanding youth who are addressing global challenges locally, nationally and internationally, and the mentors who invest in and encourage them along their journeys. Ariadne was recognized at the Innovate for Impact award ceremony in Des Moines, Iowa on October 23, 2025. In addition to her recognition, she received a $1000 award to be used however she chooses.
This article was originally published by World Food Prize Foundation