The USPOULTRY Foundation has awarded a $10,000 student recruiting grant to Pennsylvania (Penn) State University to recruit students interested in working in the poultry and egg industry upon graduation. Penn State offers a minor in poultry science and has several recent graduates starting their career in the industry.
The grant was made possible in part from an endowing Foundation gift from Perdue Farms and was presented to Penn State by Mike Levengood, V.P., chief animal care officer and farmer relationship advocate for Perdue Foods, and member of USPOULTRY’s executive committee. The recruiting grant check presentation was part of College Student Career Program activities at the 2018 International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo. The check was presented to Phil Clauer, student advisor, along with Penn State students.
The grant will be used to increase visibility in their recruiting efforts with the purchase of printed materials, branded items for potential students and lab coats. The funds will also help support the costs associated with campus visits by potential students and will continue to fund poultry youth programs. A new event, a poultry weekend for FFA and 4-H students, will be offered for youth ages 9-18 who are interested in poultry.
The USPOULTRY Foundation awarded recruiting grants totaling $282,500 for the 2017-18 school year to 35 colleges and universities across the United States with either a poultry science department or a poultry studies program. The student recruiting program dates to 1994 when the USPOULTRY board of directors established the Foundation to provide annual recruiting funds to attract students to poultry studies and ultimately into careers in the poultry industry.
