The NC Collegiate Hunger Challenge is a partnership between Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion’s hunger-relief platform, and North Carolina Campus Engagement, that aims to address the challenge of food insecurity at higher education institutions across the state. The Hunger Challenge is now in its sixth year. Since 2019, the Collegiate Hunger Challenge has awarded more than $160,000, equivalent to more than 1.6 million meals*.
The Prize Presentation ceremony for the winning campuses (listed below) took place on February 12 at NC Campus Engagement’s annual Pathways to Achieving Civic Engagement Conference at The Conference Center at Guilford Technical Community College. Kevin Durkee, Manager at Food Lion Feeds, presented the teams with their prizes on stage.
Over the course of the challenge, which ran from September 9 – December 20, 2024, 14 North Carolina colleges and universities competed to earn points by organizing events that raised awareness about hunger and food insecurity on and around campus. Events ranged from collecting food for campus pantries and providing fresh produce for students in need, to engaging students on campus in laser tag tournaments and building student knowledge about hunger during trivia nights. Each school selected one or two Student Hunger Ambassadors who led the campaign on their campus. Collectively, the participating schools increased awareness and made an impact on hunger and food insecurity through efforts that resulted in:
- Over 40,000 food items collected
- 140+ awareness events hosted
- 2,000+ social media posts amplifying the cause
- 13,500+ students, staff, faculty, and individuals directly impacted
Greensboro College emerged as the Grand Hunger Champion, securing the $10,000 grand prize for the second consecutive year. Greensboro College also won the Social Media Bonus and Most Food Collected Bonus (based on FTE between the Souper Bowl Food Drive and the Food Lion Food Drive). Elizabeth City State University won the Most Creative Event Bonus for partnering with the ECSU Campus Police to offer free car maintenance services to students before they drove home for the holidays in exchange for food donations.
Each winning campus created a video where they reflected on their participation in the Hunger Challenge and shared how they plan to utilize the prize money to support hunger initiatives on campus. Access the videos here.
Grand Hunger Champion – $10,000
Greensboro College
Pictured (L-R): Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds; Xypher Pino, Hunger Ambassador; Sloanne Petersen, Hunger Ambassador; The Rev. Dr. Robert Brewer, Campus Chaplain and Assistant Professor of Religion and Hunger Challenge Mentor; and President Larry Czarda.
UNC System Sector Champion – $5,000
Elizabeth City State University
Pictured (L-R): Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds; Nyla Phillips, Hunger Ambassador; Interim Chancellor Catherine Edmonds; and Lyteshia Riddick, Assistant Dean of Communal Engagement and Hunger Challenge Mentor.
Private/Independent Sector Champion – $5,000
High Point University
Pictured (L-R): President Nido Qubein; Kimberly Drye-Dancy, Executive Director for the Center for Community Engagement and Hunger Challenge Mentor; Khayla Gattison, Hunger Ambassador; Mitamba Msenwa, Hunger Ambassador; Terry Dixon, AmeriCorps VISTA and Hunger Challenge Mentor; Nyila Johnson, Student; and Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds. Not Pictured: Chakyia Lee, HPU Volunteer Center President.
Community College Sector Champion – $5,000
Davidson-Davie Community College
Pictured (L to R): Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds; Lynne Watts, Director, Student Life & Leadership; Emma (Lynn) Frausto, Hunger Ambassador; Katrina Prickett, Hunger Ambassador; Alana Dunlap, Student Life Coordinator and Hunger Challenge Mentor, Davidson-Davie Community College; and President Jenny Varner.
UNC Asheville and Warren Wilson College were also honored with the Phoenix Award. This award was created to recognize these campuses for demonstrating perseverance, resilience, and unwavering commitment to fighting food insecurity in the face of a great challenge. In the middle of the Hunger Challenge, UNC Asheville and Warren Wilson College were hit by Hurricane Helene, which devastated many communities in Western North Carolina. Both campuses made the brave decision to continue in the Hunger Challenge, and utilize it as an opportunity to ensure not just their campus, but their broader communities could still have access to food. By volunteering their time and coordinating with local community partners, UNC Asheville and Warren Wilson College helped bring resources and manpower to make their communities more food secure. To honor their perseverance, Food Lion donated an additional $500 gift card to each campus so they can stock their campus pantries.
2024 NC Collegiate Hunger Challenge Participating Campuses
Alamance Community College
Ambassador(s): Luke Furmage
Mentor(s): Kristina Torain, AmeriCorps VISTA
Jenny Brownell, Pantry Manager and Director of Wellness and Student Support
Davidson-Davie Community College
Ambassador(s): Emma (Lynn) Frausto & Katrina Prickett
Mentor(s): Alana Dunlap, Student Life Coordinator
Duke University
Ambassador(s): Aditya Nath
Mentor(s): Scott Brummel, Assistant Director Food & Nutrition Security
Elizabeth City State University
Ambassador(s): Nyla Phillips
Mentor(s): Lyteshia H. Riddick, Assistant Dean of Communal Engagement
Greensboro College
Ambassador(s): Sloanne Petersen & Xypher Pino
Mentor(s): Robert Brewer, Chaplain and Asst. Professor of Religion
High Point University
Ambassador(s): Khayla Gattison & Mitamba Msenwa
Mentor(s): Terry Dixon, AmeriCorps VISTA; Kimberly Drye-Dancy, Executive Director for the Center for Community Engagement; Chakyia Lee, Spring 2024 President of the Volunteer Center at HPU
Methodist University
Ambassador(s): Lylianne Myrick
Mentor(s): Ruth Carr, Director, Religious Life and Community Service
NC Central University
Ambassador(s): Ka’Niya Willingham & Nicole Anne Martin
Mentor(s): Sujaya Devarayasamudram, Assistant Professor
North Carolina A&T State University
Ambassador(s): Tayler Scott
Mentor(s): Sherelle Wofford, Food Pantry Coordinator
Piedmont Community College
Ambassador(s): Kayla Rice & Kirklyn Owen
Mentor(s): Kailey Oakley, PTK Advisor
Queens University of Charlotte
Ambassador(s): Jay Stone & Olivia Codjie
Mentor(s): Adrian Bird, University Chaplain; Maggie Dineen, Interfaith Ambassador
UNC Asheville
Ambassador(s): Mikaela Futrell
Mentor(s): Kate Johnson, Senior Director, Student Engagement
UNC Pembroke
Ambassador(s): Felicity Jackson
Mentor(s): Kamren Lewis, Brave Resource Center Manager
Warren Wilson
Ambassador(s): Dakota Ward & Kira Hendrickson
Mentor(s): Joshua Arnold, Director of ENS and Professor of Sustainable Agriculture