Source: PRESS RELEASE, 11/13/13

The USPOULTRY Foundation has approved student recruiting grants totaling approximately $183,520 to the six U.S. universities with poultry science departments and 14 other institutions with industry related programs. The Foundation provides annual recruiting and retention funds to colleges and universities to attract students to their poultry programs.  

The six poultry science departments receiving the grants are:
Texas A&M $31,557
North Carolina State $21,480
University of Arkansas $18,377
Mississippi State $17,527
Auburn University $16,251
University of Georgia $14,806

The 14 other institutions with industry related programs receiving recruiting and retention grants under the Foundation’s Industry Education Recruitment Funding Program are:
Penn State University, Pennsylvania $10,000
Virginia Tech, Virginia $7,425
California State University - Fresno, California $7,000
Louisiana State University, Louisiana $7,000
University of Delaware, Delaware $6,515
Modesto Junior College, California $6,300
Wallace State Community College, Alabama $4,500
University of North Georgia, Georgia $3,130
Clemson University, South Carolina $3,000
Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas $3,000
Ohio State University, Ohio $2,000
Jones Junior College, Mississippi $1,600
Iowa State University, Iowa $1,050
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Maryland $1,000

The grants to Clemson University, the University of Georgia and the University of North Georgia were made possible by the Leland Bagwell Education and Innovation Fund, established in January by Tommy and Chantal Bagwell. The purpose of the fund is to offer young people opportunities in the poultry industry with a focus on innovation and education, including outreach to lower-income students.

“It is extremely important that we persist in attracting bright young people to study careers in the poultry industry,” said USPOULTRY Foundation chairman Mark Waller, Ingram Farms, Cullman, AL. “We need sharp young managers to join our companies today, as they may one day be the leaders of tomorrow. USPOULTRY Foundation recruiting grants perform a vital role in inspiring students to enroll in industry related studies and in becoming future industry leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

U.S. Poultry & Egg Association established the USPOULTRY Foundation in 1994 to provide student recruiting funds to universities with poultry science departments. In 2004, the Poultry Science Education Funding Program, now named the Industry Education Recruitment Funding Program, was added to the Foundation’s umbrella so other colleges and universities that offer industry related studies are eligible to apply for recruiting grants. Applications must be submitted for these grants, which provide up to $7,000 each.