photo by Studio One Photography

Smriti said, “As I stared at the chicken curry on my plate, flashes of cramped cages at my grandparents’ farm (was) running through my mind. In that moment my relationship with food changed … I chose veganism because it aligns with my values of minimizing harm, respecting animals as sentient beings, and reducing environmental impacts.” Smriti said she joined her district’s nutrition committee and helped introduce overnight oats to the breakfast menu. Í wrote and illustrated a children’s book about nutrition and compassionate eating, then read it in elementary classrooms to more than 500 students … In college and beyond, I plan to promote veganism through systems rather than slogans. I intend to study nutrition and public policy to address structural barriers that make plant-based eating inaccessible for many families.”

The deadline for the VRG scholarship contest for high school seniors is February 20^th of each year. For details, and to see other winners, go to  https://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm

To support VRG’s outreach to young people, donate at vrg.org/donate.

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