The Wayne Community College Applied Animal Science Technology program has been awarded a grant to assist with recruiting students interested in poultry and related industry careers.
The $4,190 grant is the second the program has received from the Industry Education Recruitment Funding Program of the USPOULTRY Foundation. The gift, which is designated for recruiting and retention efforts, was given in part by Prestage Farms.
“I have been honored and very fortunate to receive the USPoultry Federation grant for two years to help with recruiting students into the Applied Animal Science program,” said Instructor Jennifer Johnson. “I am very appreciative of the US Poulty Federation as well as Prestage Farm who helped to make this possible.”
Johnson will use the grant money to purchase an assortment of WCC Applied Animal Science Program-branded items to distribute to participants at events like “We Dig It Ag Day” at Odom Farming Company.
Wayne Community College’s Applied Animal Science Technology program offers degree and certificate options. The program prepares students for careers as animal science technicians, a field in which there is much demand for workers.
“Agriculture is the number one industry in Wayne County, providing 20 percent of the employment in the county,” said Johnson. “Wayne County and the surrounding area is home to three major poultry companies.”
“It is crucial that we attempt to interest bright young people to study careers in the poultry industry. We need bright young managers to join our companies, as they will be the future leaders of our industry. USPOULTRY Foundation recruiting grants play a fundamental role in encouraging students to enroll in industry-related studies and in becoming future industry leaders of tomorrow,” said Jerry Moye, Hendrix Genetics international advisory board member and USPOULTRY Foundation chairman.
The USPOULTRY Foundation awarded recruiting grants totaling $328,300 for the 2018-19 school year to 34 colleges and universities across the United States with either a poultry science department or a poultry studies program.
WCC was one of just four North Carolina schools and only five community and junior colleges among those institutions.
For more information on the WCC Applied Animal Science Technology program, contact Johnson at (919)-739-6808 or jgjohnson@waynecc.edu.
The 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 Poultry Science Education Funding Program, now named 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.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 12,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 70 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.