Middleton High School alumni Noah Duckett and Wyatt Ehrhardt were recognized as recipients of The Diana Award for co-founding the student-led nonprofit Meals Matter to fight food insecurity.
Duckett and Ehrhardt join 200 young people from across the world who have received The Diana Award for tackling some of the most pressing issues facing their communities and generation. The Diana Award was established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her belief that, with the right support, young people have the power to change the world.
As seniors at Middleton High School in 2024, Duckett and Ehrhardt founded Meals Matter to combat food insecurity while instilling lasting commitment to volunteerism in youth through activism and action. Under their leadership, the nonprofit has raised more than $550,000 through monetary and food donations, and grown to more than 35 high school chapters with more than 3,500 youth volunteers supporting chapters in the United States and South Korea.
Duckett and Ehrhardt work with chapter leaders to empower students to lead food drives, organize events, and strengthen communities so no one goes hungry. Their approach includes partnering with local grocery stores and food pantries to host monthly food drives as well as themed events such as Halloween for Hunger and Summer Stock-Up events. They also meet with younger students as well as high school students to motivate them to become advocates and drive change.
Their advocacy efforts include meeting with state lawmakers to discuss legislative solutions to combat food insecurity. Being part of Meals Matter chapters also helps students polish their public speaking skills by presenting to students and community organizations about the need for action against hunger. A recent milestone included establishing Meals Matter as 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
As college sophomores, Duckett and Ehrhardt continue to lead Meals Matter as co-presidents. Duckett attends Harvard College and Ehrhardt attends Brown University.
“Winning the Diana Award is one of the biggest honors of my life,” said Duckett. “When we held that first food drive in Middleton, I never imagined it would turn into a national network of more than 35 chapters, all led by students who saw hunger in their communities and refused to look away. Every meal packed and every chapter launched came from young people who believed they could make a difference, and this award belongs to all of them. It shows what one idea can become when people commit to it. Representing Wisconsin, and especially Middleton, means everything to me. This is where Meals Matter started, and I hope every student here knows that the next big idea could be theirs.”
The Diana Award is the second international accolade the organization has earned. Meals Matter was awarded the 2026 William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy.
“Winning the Diana Award means a lot to me,” Ehrhardt said. “Meals Matter began as a local effort to help our neighbors in Middleton, and today it’s a national organization helping feed families in communities across the country and overseas. This award belongs just as much to our volunteers and to the community members who show up at our food drives and events to help fight food insecurity. I hope this shows other students that you don’t have to wait until you’re older to lead. You just need to decide to act and trust that your community will have your back. Ours always has.”
“We are incredibly proud of Noah and Wyatt for their vision and for bringing it to life for thousands of students,” said Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue. “The impact they’ve made locally and on a global scale is especially impressive because they have built this nonprofit from the ground up as high school, and now, college students. Their leadership and innovation are inspiring students to be positive drivers of change. They’ve shown how students can make a difference in their communities through working to thoroughly understand an issue and bringing people together to address a problem.”
Watch the awards ceremony at https://www.youtube.com/@dianaaward, and learn more about the awards at https://diana-award.org.uk.
“The young people receiving The Diana Award demonstrate what is possible when passion, compassion and determination are turned into action,” said Dr. Tessy Ojo CBE, Chief Executive of The Diana Award. “This recognition comes at a particularly significant moment as we look towards the 30th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 2027. Three decades on, her belief in the power of young people to make a difference continues to resonate across generations and borders.”
Watch this video to hear from Duckett and Ehrhardt about the award. Learn more about Meals Matter at www.meals-matter.org.