The first public health intervention of its kind Developed and researched in partnership with Johns Hopkins University at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, NutriBee engages youth across socioeconomic, geographic and ethnic groups in preparation for scaling NutriBee to the national level. This extensive research by the largest school of public health in the world is funded by an initial four hundred thousand dollar grant from the MetLife Foundation to Center for Human Nutrition faculty, Ingrid Kohlstadt MD, MPH (NutriBee founder) and Joel Gittelsohn PhD, MS (principal investigator). What is NutriBee? NutriBee is a “Bee-style” competition, which builds excitement and implements a national nutrition priority utilizing studied motivational techniques. Sharing word roots with benefit and boon, “Bees” engage a community in the spirit of camaraderie to help members in need. Originating in Colonial America, “Bee-style” competitions gave rise to the nationally prominent Scripps National Spelling Bee and the National Geographic Bee. At the local level NutriBee is a program offered at schools, afterschool clubs, and summer camps. Among the thousands of youth anticipated to participate in NutriBee each year, approximately one hundred will join in the NutriBee national finals based on class participation, projects, and an essay entitled “What makes me a nutrition leader?” A fun, empowering, national event starring kids: Imagine one hundred diversely-American youth from 1,000 participating schools and organizations taking the national stage for nutrition in Washington, D.C. They are leading their generation’s health while joined by celebrity hosts at a memorable natural setting such as the White House organic garden. The youth, their families, their schools, and their communities are recognized during the event and the finalists will win prizes, travel, awards, and scholarships.