The USPOULTRY Foundation awarded a $7,000 student recruiting grant to the University of Tennessee. The grant was made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from Centurion Poultry and was presented by Barbara Jenkins, executive director of the USPOULTRY Foundation, to Dr. Neal Schrick, head of the Animal Science Department at the University of Tennessee.
A portion of the funds will be used to support the university’s existing poultry production courses, as well as provide opportunities for further education to the undergraduate and graduate students in the Animal Science Department. These efforts include continuing recruitment at local 4-H and FFA events, hosting campus events focused on career opportunities in the poultry industry and providing opportunities for students to be involved in poultry evaluation competitions. Additionally, funds will be used to support further poultry industry education among the university’s agriculture students, including participating in USPOULTRY’s College Student Career Program at the International Poultry Expo - part of the International Production & Processing Expo - where the students can interview for full-time careers and internship opportunities.
In September 2019, the USPOULTRY Foundation board approved student recruiting grants totaling $383,577 to 35 colleges and universities across the United States with a poultry science department or industry-related degree program. The USPOULTRY Foundation provides annual recruiting funds to colleges and universities to attract students to their poultry programs. The grants are made possible by gifts to the Foundation from companies, individuals and families, in addition to funds earned over the years at the International Poultry Expo.
