Maria Rose Belding

As the author of more than a dozen nationally published pieces on food security and poverty, Maria Rose has also had the privilege to speak on the same issues in 25 states. Her work has not gone unnoticed, with recognition from Points of Light, L’Oreal Paris, and the Obama White House with President’s Volunteer Service awards in 2014 and 2016, along with being named a 2018 Glamour College Woman of the Year. In December 2018 at age 23, she became the youngest woman ever named a CNN Hero of the Year. Maria Rose graduated from American University in Washington, DC in May 2019, receiving a B.S. in public health while on the premed track. In her free time, she enjoys being asleep.