This cycle we received over 90 papers from students in 23 countries, and our team of four editors is reading through them now. The journal is funded by an Abbot Grant, and we're working on an alumni endowment so it can keep going after we graduate. If you're a high school student writing about economics, we'd love to read your work.
hi, I'm
Anna Lu
I'm a senior at Phillips Academy, originally from Johnston, Iowa. This is where I keep the things I've been working on: research, campaigns, the economics journal I help run, and piano.
This past summer I spent eight weeks at ICRISAT in Hyderabad, India, through the World Food Prize Foundation's Borlaug-Ruan internship. Before that, I wrote a history paper about Norman Borlaug and the Green Revolution for National History Day.
At home in Iowa, I help out on political campaigns and with Iowans for Brighter Future. At school, I edit the Andover Economic Review and play on the tennis team. I've also played piano since 2013.
I'm the editor in chief of the Andover Economic Review, an economics journal written by and for high school students.
2026 · National History Day
The Borlaug Reform: A Geopolitical Reaction to Global Hunger and the Green Revolution of the 1960s
A history paper on how Cold War politics shaped the Green Revolution. It made it to the national contest and placed 6th.
2026 · ICRISAT, Hyderabad
Borlaug-Ruan internship research
What I worked on this summer: trade and investment policy in agriculture.
Phillips Academy and earlier
A few more papers
A History 300 paper, a scientific computing project on economic data, and an essay I wrote in 2022. They're all on the research page.
campaigns
Iowa campaigns
I've helped with campaign finance for Rob Sand, Sarah Trone Garriott, and Justin Hollinrake.
read more →organizing
Iowans for Brighter Future
A political action committee I helped start. I run our tech.
read more →community
US Education Without Borders
I help host cultural and educational events around Iowa as a student ambassador.
read more →iv.
Work experience
Summer 2026 · Hyderabad, India
Borlaug-Ruan Intern at ICRISAT
World Food Prize Foundation
I spent eight weeks at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, researching trade and investment policy.
Summer 2025 · Des Moines, IA
Finance and Analytics Intern at Berkshire Hathaway Energy
MidAmerican Energy · Accounts Payable
I worked on three projects for the finance team, covering benefits, payments, and vendor maintenance. They help with things like bank re-routing, automated payments, and tracking suppliers.
2023 – 2024 · Des Moines, IA
Software and Data Analytics Apprentice at John Deere
I worked with engineers on software for equipment efficiency, data analytics, and reporting.
v.
Clubs & community
phillips academy
Philanthropy and Investment Club
Vice president and portfolio manager
We manage a student investment portfolio and donate the profits to local charities at the end of the year.
entrepreneurship
CoServe
Iowa Girls Entrepreneurship Incubator, 2024
I started CoServe and pitched it to investors through the incubator. I also got to present it to Principal CEO Dan Houston and Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen.
johnston high school
Student council
2022 – 2024
I was class president. We ran district-wide events and raised money for local food pantries, animal shelters, and homeless shelters.
phillips academy
Tennis and everything else
I play varsity tennis, coordinate a program for the Youth Development Organization, help with Hunger Projects, and play in a chamber ensemble.
vii.
Education
2024 – 2027
Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts
Some of my classes: AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP US History, and AP US Government and Politics.
2022 – 2024
Johnston High School, Johnston, Iowa
a few other things
- 2024Iowa Girl Entrepreneur of the Year
- 2024Iowa Social Impact Big-Data AI Challenge, for an AI model to help rural youth entrepreneurs
- 2023–25Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
- 2022–24National Gold Council of Excellence, for our student council