Steubenville High student’s research receives national recognition
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STEUBENVILLE – Steubenville High School senior Clara Hoffman is one of three students from Ohio to participate in the World Food Prize Foundation’s Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa.
The daughter of Chris and Corbin Hoffman, she earned the prestigious opportunity through participation in the Ohio Youth Institute, an educational program hosted by Ohio State University challenging students to research and develop solutions to global issues involving agriculture, food security and sustainability.
As one of Ohio’s three selected delegates, Hoffman traveled to Iowa to participate in the Global Youth Institute, where she joined students, researchers, agricultural leaders and professionals to explore solutions to global hunger and food insecurity.
Hoffman's research paper, “Building a Path to Food Security: Strengthening Rural Infrastructure in Madagascar,” explored how inadequate transportation networks, limited irrigation systems and insufficient food storage contribute to hunger and poverty in the country's rural communities.
Hoffman examined the challenges farmers face in transporting their crops to markets, maintaining reliable water supplies and preventing food loss.
Her paper proposed practical solutions, including improving rural roads, expanding small-scale irrigation systems and developing community-based storage facilities to strengthen food security and create more sustainable agricultural communities.
While attending the Global Youth Institute, she was also involved in a major hunger relief effort by the World Food Prize Foundation and Meals from the Heartland.
She was one of nearly 1,000 volunteers who packaged 990,684 meals, for the hungry in Iowa and abroad, in one hour as part of a Guinness World Records attempt.
Hoffman’s interest in environmental science and research developed through her experiences with Jessi Clark, environmental science and sustainability teacher at the school; and the school's H2O Pros, a student research group investigating environmental issues affecting local waterways.
Under Clark’s guidance, the group has conducted extensive field research examining microplastic contamination in fish populations throughout Jefferson County, including Cross Creek and the Ohio River.
Its members collect fish samples, examine environmental conditions and contribute to research efforts focused on pollution and its effects on aquatic ecosystems.
The students have also participated in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Symposium, presenting their research, interacting with environmental professionals and exploring potential careers in science and conservation.
Hoffman's involvement with the H2O Pros provided a foundation for exploring the relationship between environmental conditions, agriculture, infrastructure and food security.
Clark said, "Clara was one of only two students who demonstrated the aptitude to join H2O Pros as a junior. She approached me, asking if there was anything she could help with, and she immediately became an integral part of the group. She contributed tremendously to both the research and fieldwork and has become someone I rely on to help keep everything organized."
Clark added, "Clara has a genuine enthusiasm for learning and deeply cares about making the world a better place. Through H2O Pros, she has developed skills in long-term research, data collection and accurate field observations, while learning how scientific research can identify problems and inspire meaningful change. These experiences helped prepare her for her research on global food insecurity."
Hoffman also is a University Scholar and as a participant in the College Credit Plus program, is set to graduate with an Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees from Belmont College.
She also is president of the Steubenville Seedlings 4-H Club and has participated in 4-H for more than a decade, earning numerous honors, including recognition as Most Outstanding Junior and Senior 4-H’er.
A majorette in the school's marching band, she is in the school's teaching professions program and the Educators Rising organization for students aspiring to careers in education.
A member of the group for all four years, Hoffman competed in three state competitions, earning a spot in the national competition her sophomore and junior years.
She and her team earned second place in the Researching Learning Challenges competition, qualifying them to represent Ohio at the 2025 national conference and she served as captain of the team that competed in the 2026 national conference.
M.J. Burkett, Educators Rising adviser, said, "Clara is the kind of leader every team hopes for. Educators Rising gave her room to grow, and as team captain in Portland, she kept us organized and made sure no one felt left out. She led by looking out for her teammates, and that is exactly what great teachers do."
Hoffman also has participated in the school's Globetrotters program.