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Linda Purvis, lecturer of biology at the University of North Georgia (Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û), received a Young Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Georgia's (UGA) College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Purvis said the award focused on her efforts in building the poultry science program at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's Gainesville Campus. Those efforts began in 2011, before consolidation, at then-Gainesville State College when she began teaching the first poultry science course at the school in more than a decade. Since then, she has secured community support through grants for recruitment and scholarships from poultry industry companies.

"Now people know that Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û has poultry science," said Purvis of the associate degree program. "And we have students who come here for that."

Purvis said it's amazing to see how far the program has come in seven years, calling the UGA recognition "a truly humbling honor."

"It speaks volumes of the support that was given to the University of North Georgia to build this program," Purvis said. "To see that recognized and to be a part of that is pretty special."

Purvis has a master's degree in infectious disease and a bachelor's degree in poultry science from UGA and an associate degree in poultry science from then-Gainesville State College.