Texas A&M student earns top national poultry industry honor
Kulhanek awarded student of the year scholarship at the world’s largest poultry and egg, meat and food industry expo
Kailey Kulhanek ’26, a student in the Department of Poultry Science in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has earned one of the poultry industry’s top national honors, the Frank Perdue Scholarship Student of the Year.
Kulhanek was named during the USPOULTRY Foundation College Student Career Program, held in Atlanta alongside the International Production and Processing Expo, the world’s largest annual poultry and egg, meat and animal food industry event of its kind.
This scholarship pays tribute to Frank Perdue’s commitment to mentoring young individuals pursuing careers in the poultry industry. Perdue was a dedicated supporter of the College Student Career Program, actively participating in student interviews for many years.
National recognition, personal validation
Kulhanek said the competitive application process required an activity sheet, recommendation letters, academic transcripts and a video outlining career goals, with winners selected by a USPOULTRY Foundation selection committee.
Kulhanek transferred to Texas A&M University after starting her college career at Blinn College, and worried that her shortened time in the department would limit opportunities and program participation. The award put those fears to rest.
“I feel like I have spent my time at Texas A&M as a transfer student in the right way,” she said, “Doing what I love.”
Competing on the national champion poultry judging team and attending events like the department’s reverse career fair, she said, gave her an edge over applicants from across the country.
“Our department truly does an amazing job of putting students in front of the people and opportunities necessary to achieve an award like this,” she said.
