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Twelve University of North Georgia (Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û) students were awarded Poultry Science Student Scholarships recently thanks to donations from area poultry companies.

Receiving the scholarships were associate degree-seeking students in one of three different agriculture pathways, said Linda Purvis, lecturer of biology and poultry science at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û. The scholarships are available each semester to students, who can apply by submitting an application.

Scholarships ranged from $250 to $1,000 for a total of $8,500 in the fall 2018. Each student received an amount based on his or her GPA, merit and financial need, Purvis said.

"This was largest number of students who have received the scholarship since we started," Purvis said.  "And it was the biggest amount of scholarships we have given out to date."

Poultry companies supplying the funds were Aviagen, Harrison Poultry, Pilgrim's, Cobb Vantress, Wayne Farms, and Fieldale Farms.

Also recently, the U.S. Poultry and Egg Foundation for the seventh straight year awarded Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û $7,000 toward recruitment and education of poultry science students for the 2018-19 school year. Purvis said the funds help advertise the poultry science associate degree program at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û with pamphlets and visits to local schools.

It also funds the Poultry 101 Day that Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û will host for the third time Feb. 16. Purvis said middle and high school students from as far away as Houston County have come in the past to learn about Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's poultry science program and prepare for poultry competitions they will later attend.

The U.S. Poultry and Egg Foundation awarded Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û $7,000 toward recruitment and education of poultry science students for the seventh straight year. John E. Starkey, president of the US Poultry and Egg Association, presented the money to Linda Purvis, lecturer of biology and poultry science at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û, seen at the center. Pictured at the presentation were: bottom from left, Dr. Andy Novobilski, Adriana Guzman, Purvis, Starkey, Cara Ann McGuire, and Dr. Richard Oates; second row, John Grier, Jeanelle Morgan, Cruz Mejia; top row, Aaron Hodges, Dr. John Leyba, Danah Hunt, and Abby Thompson.