Dignitaries, locals, school groups and tourists in Milan, Italy, will learn about the cuisine of the United States from two Tar Heels this summer. Emily Crockett ’17 and Adriana Golindano ’14 are among 120 college students representing the U.S. as student ambassadors at the USA Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.
At the Expo, more than 140 participating countries, along with dozens of civil society organizations, international organizations and corporations, will showcase technologies designed to guarantee healthy, safe and sufficient food for the world’s people. The Expo expects to welcome over 20 million visitors to its 1.1 million square meters of exhibition area. The Expo opened on May 1, 2015, and will end on October 31, 2015.
The USA Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 will highlight American industry, products and entrepreneurship within the contexts of sustainability, nutrition and health, and technology and innovation. Exhibitions and digital media presentations at the pavilion are organized around the theme “American Food 2.0: United to Feed the Planet.”
Crockett, Golindano and their colleagues will serve as docents who explain the exhibitions at the Expo, facilitate cultural events and share their personal culinary history. Crockett and Golindano are participating through July 31.
Over 1,000 students applied to the Student Ambassador Program. Selected students were chosen for their previous international experience, knowledge of Italian and other world languages, and demonstrated interest in global food issues. Applicants submitted video essays explaining their background, interest in the program and understanding of global nutrition challenges.
Golindano has a dual degree in global studies and history with a minor in Italian. She spent her third year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in a study abroad program in Bologna, Italy, studying Italian culture, politics and history. In her application, Golindano highlighted her own Latino heritage and experience with its cuisine, as well as the global importance of preserving culture through national cuisine.
Crockett is an information science and art history double major with a minor in Italian. She studied in Florence, Italy, in Summer 2014, taking courses in Italian, art history and international art business. She is currently on the marketing team for World Micro Market, a Campus Y group that supports fair trade artisans in developing countries.
The students spent several weeks training in Milan before the opening of the Expo. Their orientation included protocol, briefings on U.S. policy and details about the innovative architecture of the Pavilion.
The USA Pavilion is one of 54 national pavilions at the Expo.
