Congressional Campaign Intern
Sarah Trone Garriott for Iowa
Canvassing, endorsements, and local outreach for a campaign centered on affordable healthcare, food security, and public education.
0
Raised for community causes & the arts
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Middle schoolers supported in math
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International events organized & hosted
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Music competitions won as winner or finalist
About
Policy, research,
and service.
Hi! I'm Anna, from Johnston, Iowa. I'm a boarding student at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, with extensive experience in agricultural policy and economics research — complemented by a strong academic record, leadership as class president, and statewide youth advocacy.
My recent work spans the field: spending summer 2026 at ICRISAT in Hyderabad, India as a Borlaug-Ruan International Intern, researching agribusiness policy at Grinnell, presenting on food insecurity as a Borlaug Scholar at the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute, and working on campaigns for affordable healthcare, food security, and public education.
On campus, I co-lead the Andover Economics Society, head fundraising for our UNICEF chapter, tutor middle school students in math, and play varsity tennis.
Outside the classroom, I'm a classical pianist at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School — a longtime passion that's taken me from Beijing to Carnegie Hall, and one I use to raise funds for the arts and my community in Iowa.
Professional Experience
Policy, finance
& agriculture.
Campaign Fundraising Intern
Justin Hollinrake for Ankeny City Council
Raised $10,000+ in a successful campaign focused on housing solutions, mental health, and controlling property taxes.
Financial Analytics Intern
MidAmerican Energy Company
Worked in the finance and investment department under AP Manager Christine Gordon. Selected at a <3% acceptance rate.
Agricultural SWE Intern
John Deere
Programmed with engineers to create software solutions for agricultural equipment — increasing food production and reducing waste.
Research
Food security,
studied seriously.
Summer 2026
Borlaug-Ruan International Intern · ICRISAT, Hyderabad, India
One of 13 students selected worldwide by the World Food Prize Foundation for its flagship eight-week international internship, conducting food security and sustainability research at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Read the announcement →
Aug 2025 — Present
Agricultural Economics Researcher · Grinnell College
Researching agribusiness policies for equitable food production and distribution under the guidance of Dr. Mark Montgomery, PhD.
Jun — Oct 2025
Borlaug Scholar · World Food Prize Global Youth Institute
Presented a paper proposing economic solutions to food insecurity in Afghanistan at the 2025 Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, earning the Borlaug Scholar designation.
Oct 2024 — May 2025
Economics Researcher · Phillips Academy
Conducted economics research on international sanctions through a socioeconomic lens under the guidance of Dr. Aly Blakeney, PhD.
Leadership & Service
Leading with
purpose.
Co-President
Andover Economics Society
Leading 30+ students in publishing an annual research journal, policy briefings, and organizing the inaugural Andover Economics Symposium.
Head of Fundraising
UNICEF Chapter, Phillips Academy
Spearheading fundraisers and awareness events for human rights issues; managing all club finances and donations.
Student Coordinator
Youth Development Organization
Leading "Math in the Real World" to support 120+ local middle school students living in poverty.
Student Ambassador
US Education Without Borders
Organizer, public speaker, and student host of 20+ international events across Iowa, collaborating with former US Ambassador to China and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and chairman Swallow Yan.
Class President
Johnston High School
Led a 100+ member student council and raised $15,000+ for Iowan food pantries, animal shelters, and homeless shelters.
Founder
Nonprofit Volunteer Platform
Won 1st place statewide in the Iowa Girls Entrepreneurship Incubator as founder, with a $2,500 scholarship from Microsoft.
Education
The academic
record.
Phillips Academy
Andover, MA
AP Macro & Microeconomics, AP Calculus BC, AP US History, AP Language & Composition, AP English Literature, AP US Government & Politics, AP Spanish Language & Culture
Economics Society (co-president) · Philanthropy & Investment Club (portfolio analyst) · UNICEF (head of fundraising) · Varsity Tennis
Johnston High School
Johnston, IA
Ranked 1st of 650 — AP Computer Science, AP Statistics, AP World History
Student Council President & Class Representative · Varsity Tennis
Honors & certifications
2026
Borlaug-Ruan International Internship, World Food Prize Foundation — one of 13 students selected worldwide; placed at ICRISAT in Hyderabad, India.
2025
Borlaug Scholar, World Food Prize Global Youth Institute — presented a paper on food insecurity in Afghanistan at the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines.
2024
1st Place, Iowa Girls Entrepreneurship Incubator — won statewide as founder of a nonprofit volunteer platform; $2,500 scholarship from Microsoft.
2024
Silver Cord Social Service Award of Excellence — for "exceptional contributions to the youth community service environment in the state of Iowa."
2022
2nd Place, Iowa State University AAPI Essay Award — published digitally and broadcast on IPTV radio.
Certs
College-level coursework — Agribusiness & Sustainable Food Production Economics (UIUC), Sustainable Agricultural Land Management (Univ. of Florida), Agriculture, Economics & Nature (Univ. of Western Australia).
Technical skills
- Python
- Java
- JavaScript
- C++
- HTML/CSS
- Jupyter Notebook
- Full-stack development
- Vex programming
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Google & Microsoft Workspace
Music
A parallel life
at the piano.
Alongside research and school, Anna has studied classical piano since 2013 and currently studies under Victor Cayres at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School on full scholarship. Recent highlights:
Lowell Concerto Competition & Bill Riley
Runner-up in the Lowell Concerto Competition; youngest of the top five finalists in the four-round Bill Riley Talent Search, broadcast on live TV and radio.
Carnegie Hall
First place in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition, performing at the winners recital at Carnegie Hall.
Concerto Debut & Governor's Gala
Won the Lamont Summer Academy Concerto Competition and Piano Award on full merit scholarship, debuting Schumann's A-minor concerto with orchestra. Also won the Terrace Hill Governor's Arts Competition, performing at the Iowa governor's mansion charity gala.
Earlier Years
Youngest-ever winner of the IMTA State Piano Competition (2023); pre-concert programs for Garrick Ohlsson and Hélène Grimaud; ABRSM Diploma with Distinction (2021); two-time gold medalist at the UK International Young Artist Competition in Beijing, with 2nd place at the international finals in Macau.
Repertoire
- Concerto in A minor, Op. 54Robert Schumann
- Ballade No. 1 in G minorFrédéric Chopin
- Scherzo No. 3, Op. 39Frédéric Chopin
- Nocturne Op. 48 No. 1Frédéric Chopin
- Nocturne Op. 15 No. 1Frédéric Chopin
- Étude Op. 25 No. 2Frédéric Chopin
- Prelude & Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 874J. S. Bach
- Concerto in D Major, Op. 50 No. 3Dmitry Kabalevsky
- Concert Études Op. 40, Nos. 1 & 2Nikolai Kapustin
- Sonata Op. 10 No. 2Ludwig van Beethoven
- Scherzo No. 4 in E Major, Op. 54Frédéric Chopin
- Sonata No. 3 in A minorSergei Prokofiev
- Sonetto 104 del PetrarcaFranz Liszt
- Italian Concerto, BWV 971 — I. Allegro & III. PrestoJ. S. Bach
- L'isle joyeuseClaude Debussy
- Piano Concerto in D Major, Hob. XVIII:11 — IJoseph Haydn
- Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 1Frédéric Chopin
- The Maiden and the Nightingale, from GoyescasEnrique Granados
- Impromptu in G-flat Major, Op. 90 No. 3Franz Schubert
- Sonata in A-flat, Hob. XVI/43 — III. PrestoJoseph Haydn
- Études and Polkas, Book II — Étude in C & Polka in EBohuslav Martinů
- Sonata in D Major, K. 214Domenico Scarlatti
- Presto alla tedesca, from Sonata in G Major, Op. 79Ludwig van Beethoven
- Sonatina, Op. 100Nikolai Kapustin
- The Old Maid and the ThiefGian Carlo Menotti
Contact
Let's make
something together.
For research collaboration, opportunities, performance inquiries, or anything else — my inbox is open.
hi@annajlu.com