Salisbury, Md. (Thursday, July 2, 2015) — Perdue Farms, through the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation Scholarship Program, has awarded $75,000 in scholarships to 15 children of Perdue associates and independent poultry producers. 

The Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, awarded each student a $5,000 scholarship. The Foundation was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. The Foundation has awarded scholarships to children of its associates and independent poultry producers every year since 1983.

The nine children of Perdue associates who received scholarships are:

• Gretchen Daehn, daughter of Morley and JoAnn Daehn of Laurel, Del., who will attend the Savannah College of Art and Design to pursue a degree in graphic design. She wants to use her skills to make something that people will love. Her parents work at the company’s Corporate Office in Salisbury, Md.
• Garrett Gordy, son of Gary and Christine Gordy of Salisbury, Md., who will attend Salisbury University to pursue a degree in biology. His goal is to be a surgeon and travel in developing countries. Her father works at the company’s operation in Salisbury.
• Matthew Hermes, son of David and Sue Hermes of Vincennes, Ind., who will attend Purdue University in West Lafayette to pursue a degree in civil engineering. He looks forward to designing and building roads, bridges, skyscrapers and roller coasters. His father is an associate based in Washington, Ind.
• Mary Hix, daughter of Lee and Tina Hix of Warner Robins, Ga., who will attend Berry College in Mount Berry, Ga., to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine. She wants to pair her love for horses with her compassion for disabled children and start a therapeutic program to help children. Her father works at the company’s operation in Perry, Ga.
• Matthew Lindsey, son of Michael Lindsey of Chincoteague, Va., will attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va., to pursue a degree in aerospace aeronautical engineering. Living near a NASA station inspired his interest in aerospace. His father is an associate at the company’s Corporate Office.
• Katelyn Mader, daughter of Thomas and Melissa Mader of Salisbury, Md., who will attend Salisbury University to pursue a degree in architecture. She is especially interested in “green buildings” that use renewable materials and have a smaller impact on the environment. Her mother is an associate at the Corporate Office.
• Ruby Salinas, daughter of Mario and Lidia Salinas of Monterey, Tenn., who will attend Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville to pursue a degree in merchandising and design. She wants to be a buyer for a company. Later she wants to own a store. Her mother is an associate at the company’s Monterey operation.
• Rylan Smith, son of Shannon Smith of Beaver Dam, Ky., who will attend Brescia University. He has not declared a major yet. He is passionate about serving his community. Her mother is an associate at the company’s operation in Cromwell, Ky.
• Allissa Wortham, daughter of Mark and Lois Wortham of Centertown, Ky., who will attend Owensboro Community and Technical College to pursue a degree in nursing. She aspires to become a nurse in her local hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Her mother is an associate at the company’s feed mill in Livermore, Ky.

The six children of independent poultry producers who received scholarships are:

• Brianna A. Barnes, daughter of Greg and Brenda Barnes of Scotland Neck, N.C., who will study pharmacy at Campbell University in North Carolina. She wants to go into pharmaceutical research.
• Jedidiah Chung, son of Sung Ki and Sung Hee Chung of Greenwood, Del., who will study biology at the University of Pennsylvania. He later wants to attend medical school to become a cardiovascular physician.
• Ryan Garner, son of Roger and Renita Garner of Seagrove, N.C., who will attend Sandhills Community College to pursue a degree in engineering. He hopes to pursue post-graduate studies in chemical and biomolecular engineering.
• Lauren Hobson, daughter of Derrick and Angela Hobson of Boonville, N.C., who will study biology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She wants to become a dentist.
• Conner Nolan, son of Tim and Jane Nolan of Washington, Ind., who will study marketing at Ball State University. He hopes to work in California.
• Kelsey Settles, daughter of Chris and Sandy Settles of Owensboro, Ky., who will study nursing at Western Kentucky University. She wants to work as a pediatric nurse.

About the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation Scholarship Program
The Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. The Foundation has awarded scholarships to children of its associates and independent farm family partners every year since 1983. Professionals in education from the International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc., based in Nashville, Tenn., select the recipients. The non-renewable awards can be used at any accredited college in the United States, regardless of major or field of study.

About Perdue Farms
Perdue Farms is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone we touch through innovative food and agricultural products. Since our beginning on Arthur Perdue’s farm in 1920, to our expansion into agribusiness and the introduction of the PERDUE® brand of chicken and turkey under Frank Perdue, and continuing with our third generation of leadership with Chairman Jim Perdue, we’ve remained family owned and family operated. We are the parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. Through our PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART®, PERDUE® HARVESTLAND®, COLEMAN PREMIUM® and COLEMAN ORGANIC® food brands; agricultural products and services; and stewardship and corporate responsibility programs, we are working to become the most-trusted name in food and agricultural products.