Future-Focused: PDPS Celebrates the Class of 2018

Prestage Department of Poultry Science graduates are going places. With post-graduation plans ranging from full-time jobs to internships to graduate study, PDPS’s newly minted alums are ready to shape the future in and beyond poultry science.

May 12 was one of the hottest days in Raleigh so far in 2018, but the heat couldn’t wilt the excitement of PDPS students and their families. Graduating students and proud family members gathered in 124 Dabney Hall to celebrate the Spring 2018 Graduation Ceremony of the Prestage Department of Poultry Science. Twenty-five undergraduates and four graduate students received diplomas and well-earned congratulations.

Department head Pat Curtis presided and awarded diplomas with Jesse Grimes, Director of Graduate and Certificate Programs. Undergraduates received their diplomas from Lynn Worley-Davis, the Undergraduate Teaching Coordinator. Graduate students received their diplomas from their directing faculty member.

Along with Curtis and Grimes, Anne Hubbard offered congratulations from CALS to all graduating students. In her remarks she emphasized that as new alumni, the students are still part of the CALS family.

As each student received their diploma, they offered thanks and many invited their family members to the front in recognition of their support before and during students’ time at NC State.

Undergraduate students represented a variety of poultry science paths:

• 3 students were Poultry Science majors
• 11 were Poultry Science majors with at least one minor
• 6 completed Poultry Science minors and majored in other areas and
• 6 students were double majors in Poultry Science and another major.

Undergraduates

• Benjamin Alig
• Tanner Allen*
• Ray Borzotra
• Heather Bundy
• Mindy Chu*
• Luke Defenderfer
• Taylor Gilyard
• Ethan Holland
• Nayeem Hossain
• Sam Hughes
• Courtney Johnson
• Susan Jones
• Abby Kuster*
• Lauren Lahnstein
• Laken Macemore*
• Katie Masingale
• Nicole Mauldin
• Selena McKoy
• Shaianne Peedin
• Victoria Pender
• Jacob Pless*
• Hannah Robinson
• Kasey Stephenson*
• Ana Talkamp
• Abby Turner

*Poultry Science minors

Graduate students also reflected the variety of graduate poultry science options. Two students finished Masters of Research degrees, one completed a Master of Science and one finished a Doctor of Philosophy in Poultry Science.

Graduates

• Muneeb Akram, Masters of Research
• Karlinton Flores, Master of Science
• Luiz Lascimento, Masters of Research
• Matthew Livingston, Doctor of Philosophy