Delmarva Poultry Industry awards college scholarships

Students pursuing college and graduate studies connected to careers in Delmarva’s chicken industry will receive $2,000 scholarships through the Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc. College Scholarship Program. 

“By supporting these students, DPI is investing in the next generation of leadership for our chicken community,” said Holly Porter, DPI executive director. “We encourage these young people to put their education and skills to use in Delmarva’s $3.4 billion chicken economy when they graduate.”

The following local students will receive scholarships:

Bridget Barrett of Lewes, a past DPI scholarship recipient who is a sophomore at West Virginia University, is pursuing a degree in industrial engineering. She hopes to apply her skills by helping Delmarva chicken processing plants improve major practices and communicate with a diverse workforce.

Cole Statler of Millsboro is a senior at Sussex Central High School who’s headed to the University of Delaware. A chicken grower’s grandson, Statler aims to become an engineer equipped to improve the operation of processing plants, farm equipment and chicken houses.

Leslie Webb of Greenwood is a Lake Forest High School senior bound for the University of Delaware. Webb’s intended major is environmental engineering, and she hopes to work on improving wastewater management in chicken processing plants or addressing air-quality challenges in chicken houses.