The USPOULTRY Foundation awarded student recruiting grants totaling $297,580 to six U.S. universities with Poultry Science departments and 20 other institutions with industry-related programs. The Foundation provides annual recruiting and retention funds to colleges and universities to attract or connect students to their poultry programs and the industry. The grants were made possible in part by gifts to the USPOULTRY Foundation from companies, individuals and families, in addition to funds earned over the years from the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo.

The six poultry science departments receiving the grants are:

University                                         Grant Amount
University of Arkansas                      $29,684
Auburn University                             $31,719
University of Georgia                        $27,868
Mississippi State University              $29,133
North Carolina State University        $31,719
Texas A&M University                       $49,877

The 20 other institutions with industry-related programs receiving recruiting and retention grants under the Foundation’s Industry Education Recruitment Funding Program are:

Institution                                                              Grant Amount
California State University, Fresno, California          $7,000 
Clemson University, South Carolina                         $2,250 
Cleveland Community College, North Carolina       $7,000 
Delaware Valley University                                       $2,310 
Emmanuel University, Georgia                                 $4,484 
Iowa State University                                                $7,000 
Kansas State University                                            $5,600 
Modesto Junior College, California                          $7,000 
Murray State University, Kentucky                            $4,620 
North Carolina A&T State University                        $2,800 
Sam Houston State University, Texas                        $7,000 
Tennessee Tech University                                         $4,620 
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff                               $2,310 
University of Delaware                                               $3,465 
University of Florida                                                   $4,425 
University of Mount Olive, North Carolina                 $3,696 
University of North Georgia                                       $7,000 
University of Tennessee                                              $3,500 
Wallace State Community College, Alabama             $4,500 
Wilkes Community College, North Carolina               $7,000

“Our industry needs talented young people to see all the amazing and varied career paths offered in our industry, so they can make the choice to become our leaders of tomorrow. USPOULTRY Foundation recruiting grants are an essential tool to help colleges and universities encourage students to enroll in poultry industry-related studies,” said Michael Levengood, Perdue Farms and USPOULTRY Foundation chairman.

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 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.