Youth Stories
UMKC student-staff duo hopes to scale hydroponic lettuce from ‘six-by-six footprint’ to food insecurity solution
A $730,000 multi-university initiative is helping researchers rethink how food is produced and delivered to improve access to fresh produce across region.
No height limit for entrepreneurship: Kansas nonprofit boosts children’s business literacy
“We look at every child as a leader right now,” said Leah Ellis, founder of The Society of Child Entrepreneurs, “and ask them what they want to see happening in their community today, rather than kicking the can down the road until they’re older or taller.”
Johnson County senior wins Congressional App Challenge with his school workflow workaround
Drake Semchyshyn turned a personal pain point at school into an award-winning app. The Blue Valley West senior created Catalyst — designed to improve students’ academic experience within Canvas, a widely used learning management system — winning the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Kansas’ Third District. “The Canvas student application basically manages grades, assignments, submissions,…
Bin believer: Teen thrifting founder finds value, sorted by aesthetic (not sizes)
Rags Restyled 4u is selling more than just thrifted clothes, its 19-year-old founder shared; it’s using apparel stitched with self expression to give clothes a second life. “The end goal is really just to have a brand that makes a difference and makes people feel safe and comfortable and like they can fully be themselves,”…
Bless-tested: 6-year-old’s first instinct was to help; now she wants to bag more impact
When Ava-Rochelle Woodard rides through Kansas City with her parents, the 6-year-old pays attention. She notices people walking along the road, and when Ava sees someone who might need help, she asks a question that has grown into a community effort. “Do we have a bag in the car?” asks Ava, founder of Today’s Your…
