Mountaire awards $80,000 in scholarships

Mountaire Farms, the nation’s sixth-largest chicken producer, recently awarded 32 students with $2,500 scholarships to help them pay for college.

Children and grandchildren of employees, growers, and grain suppliers are all eligible for the scholarships, which were announced recently. Winners received a certificate and a scholarship.

“We are proud of this program because it embraces everything that we care about – our employees, our growers, our grain producers and their families,” said Phillip Plylar, president of Mountaire Farms. “And these students have all demonstrated a commitment to their education, and to their communities, which we believe should be celebrated.”

Due to COVID-19, the annual luncheon which brings everyone together wasn’t possible this year.

Eight of the recipients are from Delaware.

Jaiden Cain, a Lake Forest High School graduate from Harrington, will be attending Virginia Tech. Her father Michael Cain is a grain producer for Mountaire. 

Estefania Samper Cruz, an Indian River High School graduate from Selbyville, will attend the University of Delaware. Her father Luis Samper works as a further processing/scheduling manager for Mountaire Farms of Delmarva. 

Saray Lopez, an  Indian River High School graduate from Frankford, attends University of Delaware. Her parents Yolanda and Serafin Lopez work in processing operations in Selbyville.

Cameron Schweiger, a Sussex Technical High School graduate from Lewes, will attend the University of Delaware. His mother Angela Schweiger is an IT applications manager for Mountaire.

Megan Smith, a Delmar High School graduate from Delmar, will choose a school at which to study political science. Her father Douglas Smith is director of processing at the Selbyville processing plant. 

Cole Statler, a Sussex Central High School graduate from Millsboro, attends University of Delaware. His grandfather Mack McCary is a grower for Mountaire Farms. 

Brendyn Rae Vanderslice, a Laurel High School graduate who lives in Laurel, attends Regent University. Her father Patrick Vanderslice is a broiler flock supervisor for Mountaire Farms of Delaware Inc. 

Abigail West, an Indian River High School graduate from Frankford, will choose a school at which to study agribusiness management. Her parents Mary Beth and Fred West III are grain producers and broiler growers for Mountaire of Delmarva.