Delmarva Chicken Association

When we award scholarships to students drawing a bead on chicken careers, we're excited by their potential. University of Maryland Eastern Shore grad student Unishma Ghimire, for instance - she's researching how thermal conditioning early in chickens' lives can help them handle heat stress. Check out the university's account of her nifty, practical research at the link.
📸 Todd Dudek/UMES

FFA students from Lake Forest, Sussex Central and Woodbridge school districts in Delaware learned quite a bit about career opportunities in chicken while visiting the Perdue Farms hatchery in Hurlock, Md. on Monday. (No, they're not on the moon... that's biosecurity garb they're wearing!) We're all about encouraging career interest and readiness so that the next generation of the chicken workforce is interested in the field -- and equipped to advance it.

Coming to the Booster BBQ? Just follow the paw tracks! 🐾 🐓

The sixth annual Booster BBQ is a week away! Double the ice cream trucks, delicious barbecued chicken, lawn games for the kids, dozens and dozens of vendor booths to visit, and a new class of Outstanding Grower honorees... this will be a treat for DCA members. Register by May 29 to attend.

Delmarva Chicken Association granted scholarships totaling $30,000 to 15 students pursuing college and graduate degrees relevant to careers in Delmarva’s chicken industry through the DCA College Scholarship Program. Three graduate students and twelve undergraduate students, selected by a committee of DCA members who reviewed their applications, recommendations, and academic achievements, earned scholarship awards.

The graduate students receiving $3,000 scholarships are:

🐔Bishal Bhattachan of Hyattsville, Md., a graduate student at the University of Maryland. Bhattachan hopes to become a poultry researcher making advances in gut health, nutrition, and muscle biology.

🐔Unishma Ghimire of Princess Anne, Md., a graduate student at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Ghimire is seeking a master’s degree and is studying heat stress resilience in pasture-raised broiler chickens.

🐔Jiddu Joseph of Newark, Del., a graduate student at the University of Delaware. Joseph is pursuing a doctoral degree in animal and food sciences, and has focused his research on pathogens that threaten flock health.

The undergraduate students receiving $2,000 scholarships are:

🐔Macy Cook of Cordova, Md., a student at the University of Mount Olive studying for a degree in agribusiness.

🐔Mason Jewell of Hartly, Del., a student at the University of Kentucky pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics.

🐔McKenna Vest of Clayton, Del., a student at Texas A&M University working towards a degree in agricultural economics.

🐔Avery Kerrick of Greenwood, Del., who is pursuing a degree in agricultural education and advocacy at the University of Kentucky.

🐔Caroline Kimball of Ridgely, Md., who will attend either Purdue University or Virginia Tech in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in animal science.

🐔Muhammad Ibrahim of Hurlock, Md., a student interested in engineering who will attend the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

🐔Brooklynne Keiser of Smyrna, Del., who is enrolling at the University of Delaware to seek a degree in business administration.

🐔Katelyn Sankar of Centreville, Md., who is pursuing a degree in entrepreneurship from Grove City College.

🐔Madeline Tomlinson of Parsonsburg, Md., who is set to attend St. Mary’s College of Maryland with an intended major in marine science.

🐔Sarah Yamakawa of Fruitland, Md., who is enrolling at the University of Maryland and hopes to study biology and ornithology.

Two additional students earned special ‘pick of the flock’ $500 scholarships, drawn from the remaining pool of strong scholarship candidates:

🐤Madelyn Cook of Eden, Md., attending Salisbury University and seeking a degree in business management/human resources.

🐤Brayden Hearn of Laurel, Del., who attends Delaware Valley University and is seeking a degree in agricultural business.