Donovan Shoemaker is the first Alcorn State University student to receive a Mississippi Poultry Association scholarship.
The senior animal science major from Walnut Grove, Mississippi, earned one of four $4,000 awards the association gives each year to students headed into poultry careers. Winners are picked on academic record, leadership and industry experience.
“I was honestly surprised and extremely grateful,” Shoemaker said. “It felt rewarding to know that all the hard work I’ve put into my academics and gaining hands-on experience in the poultry industry was being recognized.”
The program draws six to more than 20 applications a year, said Mark Leggett, president of the association. A committee of educators selects the recipients.
What separated Shoemaker was work he had already done.
“It always helps when an applicant has worked in the industry through internships and summer jobs,” Leggett said. “So few students express an interest in working in a poultry plant, but that is where the fastest promotions are available.”
Shoemaker grew up around agriculture in Mississippi. The poultry side came later, after two internships with PECO Foods.
“I realized how many career opportunities the poultry industry offers,” he said. “I enjoy that it’s a field where I can combine science, animal care, food production and leadership while making a real impact on feeding people.”
Faculty in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences told him about the scholarship and pushed him to apply.
“They have challenged me academically, connected me with internship opportunities and continuously encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone,” Shoemaker said. “Their mentorship has helped me grow both professionally and personally.”
He will attend the association’s annual convention Sept. 17-20, where he will be introduced during a general session and meet industry professionals and prospective employers. Student attendees also help run convention activities, which puts them in front of company leaders.
Leggett said the convention functions as workforce development as much as a meeting.
After graduation, Shoemaker plans to stay in the industry and move toward leadership roles in poultry production and food safety.
His advice to other students is short. Apply.
“Take advantage of internships, ask questions, build relationships with your professors and industry professionals, and don’t be afraid to apply for scholarships and leadership opportunities,” he said. “Stay committed, work hard, and be willing to learn because those opportunities can lead to an amazing career.”
