Skip to main content
Appalachian Today
News and events at Appalachian State University
  • For the media
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • Accolades
  • Alumni
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Athletics
  • Awards and Honors
  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Global
  • Health and Wellness
  • Publications
  • Research
  • Safety
  • Scholarships
  • Students
  • Sustainability
☰ Menu
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • The university remains open, with emergency management protocols activated and operational modifications and precautions in place. Read the latest updates

Concept for turning corn chip oil into biodiesel fuel earns Appalachian students second place in international Food Solutions Challenge

View larger image

Appalachian State University students Kelsey Simon, left, and Ali Moxley took second place in the Food Solutions Challenge in April.

Food Solutions Challenge Finals video
Food Solutions Challenge Finals video

Kelsey Simon said she and Ali Moxley had only had two and half weeks to create the video and pitch for the competition.

Watch the video
By University Communications
Posted May 8, 2017 at 3:45 p.m.

BOONE, N.C.—What has 18 wheels and runs on corn chips? Thanks to a food solution from two Appalachian State University students, a chip producer’s transportation fleet well could.

Senior chemistry major and sustainable business minor Kelsey Simon and senior management major and nutrition and sustainable business minor Ali Moxley placed second in the international Food Solutions Challenge, held during the Global Food Solutions Conference April 19-21 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Their food solution converts used frying oil from corn chip production to biodiesel to fuel a chip company’s transportation fleet. The Food Solutions Challenge is designed to raise awareness and holistic thinking around issues stemming from food production and distribution with a goal of making the food supply chain more carbon neutral.

Appalachian was one of six finalists in the competition, which began as a field of 50. The other finalists were McGill University in Quebec, Canada, University of California Berkeley, California College of the Arts, Texas State University and the DC Net Impact professionals chapter.

During the event, the students presented the winning solution originally submitted during the local challenge event March 8 in Peacock Hall on the Appalachian campus. The six winning submissions from the local events earned the finalists an all-expense-paid trip to the Wisconsin conference.

“We were excited to travel, compete and represent the Walker College of Business in the international event,” said Kernersville native Simon, who is president of Appalachian’s chapter of Net Impact, a professional network that supports and promotes sustainable business practices. “Presenting our food solution was a great experience.”

Simon credited Moxley, from Marietta, Georgia, with the food solution idea. For their work, the students earned a $1,000 prize for Appalachian’s Net Impact Club.

About Sustainable Business at Appalachian

Appalachian’s Walker College of Business is committed to advancing sustainable business practices that promote responsible management of economic, social and natural resources. The theory and practice of sustainable business recognizes that the economy, environment and society (the triple bottom line) are interconnected and interdependent, and strives to enhance the business model so that it can flourish and thrive to benefit future generations. The college offers a sustainable business minor available to business and non-business majors, a bachelor’s degree in environmental economics and policy, and an MBA concentration in sustainable business. The programs focus on student engagement, research and community involvement.

About Net Impact

Net Impact is a community of more than 100,000 students and young professionals who want to transform their passions into world-changing action. A nonprofit membership organization, Net Impact empowers its members to use business skills in support of various social and environmental causes. Programs and networking events center on topics such as corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, international development and environmental sustainability.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 20,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

Related link

  • Local Food Solutions Challenge held March 8

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Share

Topics

  • Awards and Honors
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Research
  • Sustainability

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • University media releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015
  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Share

Topics

  • Awards and Honors
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Research
  • Sustainability

Other Recent Posts

  • App State coronavirus information
    App State coronavirus information
  • How New River got its flow back: App State’s NRLP completes Payne Branch environmental restoration project
    How New River got its flow back: App State’s NRLP completes Payne Branch environmental restoration project
  • Nearly $12 million in federal funding supports App State Empowering Teacher Learning program
    Nearly $12 million in federal funding supports App State Empowering Teacher Learning program
  • Schaffels commit to $1 million matching gift for An Appalachian Summer Festival
    Schaffels commit to $1 million matching gift for An Appalachian Summer Festival
  • App State alumnus produces news to keep Kentuckians informed
    App State alumnus produces news to keep Kentuckians informed
  • App State to conduct full test of its emergency notification system Feb. 3
    App State to conduct full test of its emergency notification system Feb. 3
  • App State transfer student has a ‘Head Start’ on her career
    App State transfer student has a ‘Head Start’ on her career
  • Ways to honor Martin Luther King Jr. — service during COVID-19
    Ways to honor Martin Luther King Jr. — service during COVID-19
  • App State senior awarded spring 2021 Rogers and Janice Whitener Scholarship for creative writing
    App State senior awarded spring 2021 Rogers and Janice Whitener Scholarship for creative writing
  • Ask the Experts [faculty featured]
    Ask the Experts [faculty featured]
    Wallet Hub
  • Grant-supported App State project explores relationship between religious studies and public issues
    Grant-supported App State project explores relationship between religious studies and public issues
  • First-generation App State student hammers out a new perspective
    First-generation App State student hammers out a new perspective

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • University media releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015
  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • Archives
  • Contact

Appalachian State University

Copyright 2021 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.

University Communications
ASU Box 32153
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6156
ucomm@appstate.edu

Abouts

Disclaimer | EO Policy | Website manager: montaldi | Website Feedback

Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Snapchat