Delmarva Chicken Association taking applications for 2025 College Scholarship Program

By Linda Cicoira

The Delmarva Chicken Association has begun taking applications for its 2025 college scholarship program.

There are $2,000 awards for undergraduates and $3,000 awards for those attending graduate-degree programs. The deadline for submission is 4:30 p.m., Friday, March 28, 2025. Applications are available online at https://www.dcachicken.com/scholarship/.

The association’s annual golf tournament raised $19,000 plus for the scholarship fund this year. Since 1985, DCA has awarded more than $222,000 to students.

“It’s an exciting time to be preparing for a career in the chicken community,” said Holly Porter, the association’s executive director. “More than 18,000 jobs on Delmarva are directly tied to our chicken companies, and thousands more careers are supported by the chicken economy. We’re excited to be able to help students start journeys toward their chicken careers each year through these scholarships.”

The applicants must be in good standing at an accredited, degree-granting institution within the U.S. or a high school senior who will soon graduate and has been accepted to such a college or university. A complete transcript must accompany applications, or proof of college acceptance is required. Applicants must also provide a letter of reference from an academic advisor or faculty member. The letter may be included with the application, or the faculty member may email it to the association office at [email protected] by the deadline. DCA membership is not required and will not affect the selection process.

The student’s major must be relevant to Delmarva’s chicken community. Applicants may be pursuing associate’s degrees, technical studies degrees, or bachelor’s degrees and must be residents of the Delmarva Peninsula. Previous recipients, if still eligible, may reapply.

Evaluations will be made by an association committee, which for the undergraduate students will rate by the scholastic record worth up to 20 points, answers to questions for up to 40 points, school/community activities and awards for up to 20 points, financial need for up to five points, and faculty reference for up to 15 points.

For the $3,000 Emerson Morgan Graduate Scholarship, students will be evaluated for scholastic record at up to 10 points, answers to questions at up to 30 points, activities and awards up to 10 points, research benefits to Delmarva up to 40 points, and faculty reference up to 10 points.