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In recognition of the significant contribution and leadership provided to the poultry industry by Deborah Whale during her term as Chair of the Poultry Industry Council (PIC), PIC provides an annual scholarship of $1,000 to students who are currently registered in a M.Sc. or Ph.D. program at the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph.
Congratulations to Sierra Schaus, the Fall 2021-2022 Deborah Whale Poultry Award recipiant.
Sierra is holds a B.Sc. (Hons) (Dist) – Animal Biology at the University of Guelph
Bio: I grew up working on my family’s broiler barn in Bruce County. This is where my fascination with poultry began. Fast forward a few short years and I enrolled as an undergraduate student in the Animal Biology program at the University of Guelph. From there, I became more interested in every aspect of the poultry industry. In 2nd year, I joined the OAC Poultry Club where I got to learn from industry professionals about a plethora of poultry-related topics. Through this club, I was also able to complete two Artificial Insemination programs in partnership with the Poultry Industry Council. Then in my 4th year, I joined the Bédécarrats lab for a research project course where I looked at the impact of sexual maturation on bone characteristics in three lines of laying hens using CT imaging. This led directly to my current M.Sc. program in the Bédécarrats lab.
She shared with us she is, "very excited to learn more about poultry and hope that my project will be able to help the industry."
PIC is excited and proud to be part of her journey!
The selection process is based on research potential (M.Sc. student) or demonstrated research aptitude (Ph.D. student), academic standing and intended benefits and outcomes of the planned research to the poultry industry. Apply to the OAC Awards Office by August 15 with C.V. and include a one-page summary of a research project demonstrating the relevance of the research and its potential impact on the poultry industry along with two letters of reference, one of which must be from the applicant’s advisor.
Students currently registered in any M.Sc. or Ph.D. program in OAC with a minimum of 75% average in the last two years of undergraduate or graduate studies and who are pursuing research in the poultry area are eligible to apply.
For more information or to apply, visit the University of Guelph’s website.