Jadon Cook

Macy Cook

Yasmin Cruz

Dakota Gunter

Brayden Hearn

Meghan Malloy

Ethan Patey

Aryavir Sangwan

Anuradha Jeewantha Punchihewage Don

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The Delmarva Chicken Association has granted scholarships totaling $19,000 to nine students pursuing college and graduate studies connected to careers in the poultry industry.

Eight of the recipients are enrolled in undergraduate programs and received $2,000 scholarships. One graduate student was awarded $3,000.

The awardees are:

• Jadon Cook, of Cordova, Maryland, is a Chesapeake College student attending University of Mount Olive this fall. Mr. Cook grew up on a family farm that raises chickens, assisting with the farm’s conservation buffer program and with the family landscaping business. With an interest in botany and experimentation with fertilizers he intends to major in plant science.
• Macy Cook, of Cordova, Maryland, is a Chesapeake College student attending the University of Mount Olive this fall. With a career goal to become a financial advisor for Delmarva's poultry farmers, she intends to major in business administration. Ms. Cook grew up on a family poultry farm.
• Yasmin Cruz of Bridgeville is a Woodbridge High School graduate attending the University of Delaware this fall. She is pursuing a degree in food and agribusiness marketing. As a high schooler, she participated in the agriscience program and National FFA Organization.
• Dakota Gunter, of Greensboro, Maryland, is a rising junior at Salisbury University who is majoring in accounting. Mr. Gunter has volunteered with the Queen Anne’s County Parks Department to plant trees to assist with Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts and plays lacrosse for Salisbury University. His goal is to work with Delmarva farmers to assist with accounting needs.
• Brayden Hearn of Laurel is a Laurel High School graduate attending Delaware Valley University in the fall. Mr. Hearn grew up on a farm, raising livestock and produce. He intends to pursue a degree in agribusiness, with a focus on supply chain management.
• Meghan Malloy of Dover is a Caesar Rodney High School graduate attending the University of Delaware in fall 2023. She will work toward a degree in pre-veterinary medicine. She has participated in FFA leadership positions and plans to work at the UD Dairy Farm. She has volunteered time to numerous organizations, such as Pedal for Prostate, Adopt a Family, the Little Rider Clinic and the American Heart Association.
• Ethan Patey of Delmar is a graduate of Salisbury Christian School who’s currently attending Delaware Technical Community College’s Owens Campus, pursuing a degree in agribusiness management. Mr. Patey intends to transfer to a four-year institution.
• Aryavir Sangwan, of Salisbury, Maryland, is a Stephen Decatur High School student attending University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in the fall. Mr. Sangwan is a Junior Assistant Trainer at TidalHealth and intends to pursue a degree in chemistry to develop skills in food science.
• Anuradha Jeewantha Punchihewage Don, of Princess Anne, Maryland, a Ph.D. student in food and agricultural sciences at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Mr. Punchihewage Don previously earned his master’s degree in food science and agricultural sciences from University of Maryland Eastern Shore. His current research is investigating antimicrobial resistance on and whole genome sequencing of Salmonella in organic and non- organic chicken in the Delmarva area. He has published works in the Journal of Food Protection, Heliyon, Pathogens, and Sri Lanka Journal of Animal Production.