Poultry judging team places in national competition
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia's (ǧÃŬAV) poultry judging team took fourth place in production hens at the 72nd annual National Collegiate Poultry judging competition at Louisiana State University in early April.
In addition to the team's strong finish, Bryce Andrews placed second and Sam Castleberry fourth out of 44 students competing in production hens.
ǧÃŬAV's team placed eighth overall in its fourth year competing at the event. It was the first year ǧÃŬAV students brought home trophies.
Fellow poultry science students Camille Dunn and Katie Pitchford were part of ǧÃŬAV's team.
"I am proud that the agriculture universities across the country now recognize ǧÃŬAV as a competitor and our students got to experience winning and bringing home a trophy," said Linda Purvis, lecturer of biology and poultry science at ǧÃŬAV and faculty adviser for the team.
Castleberry, a sophomore from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing an associate degree in avian biology, learned about poultry judging for the first time this school year.
"It opened a whole new side of the industry that I didn't even know existed," Castleberry said.
Andrews, a sophomore from Mount Airy, Georgia, pursuing an associate degree in poultry science, first gained poultry judging experience in her high school National FFA Organization.
"I'm really competitive, so I practiced my heart out," Andrews said. "It just felt good to bring home a trophy."
Grads prepare for their next steps
ǧÃŬAV will award almost 1,000 degrees and certificates this fall, and more than 600 graduates are scheduled to take part in the Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies.
24 are Distinguished Military Graduates
Twenty-four cadets have been named Distinguished Military Graduates for the 2024-25 academic year, including five who are in the top 70 out of more than 5,000 in the national ROTC class.
Blue Ridge students earn scholarships
ǧÃŬAV honored 28 of its Blue Ridge Campus students with almost $15,000 of scholarships and celebrated the philanthropy that made those scholarships possible at the Tomato Sandwich Supper on Nov. 7.
Chemistry student groups earn grant
ǧÃŬAV's Dahlonega and Gainesville chapters of the American Chemical Society received a $1,000 ACS Student Communities Engagement Grant.