A West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources student, Eowyn Hansrote, was a part of the winning team in the Innovate for Good case competition, where students designed capacity-building solutions for West Virginia nonprofits addressing food insecurity.
Hansrote, a freshman Landscape Architecture student, was on a team with James Swift, Biology, and Kai Starcher, Sustainability Studies. Their project was titled “Sprout: A Step to Food Stability.”
“I’ve been volunteering and doing community service for years and I really enjoy it. So it was really interesting to do this competition and get to see and think about service from the backend,” Hansrote said. “I really loved getting to learn about all the behind-the-scenes things that happen to make this kind of community service possible.”
Their project focused on creative ways to increase financial support and improve operational efficiency. The group proposed the creation of a network that connects these nonprofits with local farms, businesses and hunters to sustainably source more food donations.
Often, farms and grocery stores have food waste due to cosmetic imperfections in the produce, surplus, or items that did not sell in stores. By redirecting this food to local nonprofits, it increases access to fresh produce and other foods while also reducing overall food waste.
Another part of their proposal was to create tax-deductible incentives for local hunters, hunt clubs and fishermen to donate extra game or fish and increase protein availability in food banks.
“We were a little worried at first because when you think of food insecurity, the first thought is ‘we need more money,’ but you can’t always count on that. So we tried to think more broadly and be creative about the solutions we pitched,” Hansrote said.
Hansrote’s team placed first out of 14 teams, with the top three teams winning a financial award, supported by Enterprise Mobility. She also noted that the projects from the competition can have a tangible impact on the community. For example, their group has since been working with a local nonprofit to adapt their winning idea into a real program to expand their capacity and help the community.
The Innovate for Good case competition is a partnership between the WVU Career Services Center , the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, and the WVU Center for Community Engagement.
The inaugural competition was designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, applied problem-solving, and meaningful community impact. It provides students the opportunity to learn real-world problem-solving skills, as well as supporting West Virginia communities through nonprofits.
“One of the most important things we can teach students is how to think beyond their own perspective and learn from others,” Kristi Wood-Turner , director of the Center for Community Engagement, said. “When students bring together different disciplines, ideas and community voices, they begin to see how real solutions can develop. As Mountaineers, their role is to join these conversations and contribute their talents in ways that truly make a difference, and I was proud to see that come to life in this event.”
Groups of three to four students worked together to create a project brief that addresses either innovative fundraising ideas or creative staffing solutions to build capacity for West Virginia nonprofits.
Some of the other projects presented include a restaurant food recycling program, a platform that streamlines nonprofit operations, creating partnerships with local universities to gain student volunteers, and creating a college-student-run delivery program for donations, to name a few.
“This competition gives students an experience to put on their resume, to talk about on LinkedIn, or in an interview,” said Ali Anderson, program director of employer relations at the WVU Career Services Center. “We know that employers are looking for students to articulate what skills they have, not just their GPA. This competition allowed them to think critically, do research, work on a team, communicate their skills, and problem-solve, which are all key skills that employers are looking for.”
Another key aspect of this competition was the chance for students to engage with community service and immerse themselves in West Virginia communities in a deeper way. Since many of the students participating are not from the state, this competition allowed them to see what West Virginia is like beyond WVU and to see the type of impact that the University has on the state.
“The idea is not just that students are checking their community service box, they are really getting a chance to feel immersed within the community,” Anderson said. “They can have a chance to feel like this whole state is their home, not just WVU, and how they can use their expertise and what they're learning here to make a positive influence throughout the state, which really speaks to the land-grant mission of WVU.”
The Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources envisions a West Virginia with healthy food, resilient natural resources, and thriving communities. To learn more about the Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, visit davis.wvu.edu. Keep up with the latest updates and news from the Davis College @WVUDavis on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
-WVU-
Sk/03/18/26
CONTACT: Sydney Keener
Communications Specialist
WVU Division for Land-Grant Engagement
304-293-8986; Sydney.keener@mail.wvu.edu