FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Lesleigh Beer, a senior poultry science major in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the U of A, was named the Frank Perdue Scholarship Student of the Year during USPOULTRY Foundation's College Student Career Program held in conjunction with the 2017 International Production and Processing Expo Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

The scholarship is named in Frank Perdue's honor for his dedication to aspiring young people studying for careers in the poultry industry.

Nearly 600 students interested in a career in the poultry industry were in attendance. The program attracted students from 36 universities throughout the United States while the International Student Program brought in 12 students from six universities in Latin America. The students interviewed for jobs and internships with human resource representatives from 37 industry and allied firms. They were also able to visit the exhibit floor to see the most current technology used in today's industry.

"Our poultry science majors are always excited to travel to Atlanta and attend the International Poultry Exposition, but this year the anticipation was especially high because the club worked hard all year to prepare for competition," said department head Mike Kidd. "Their efforts paid off and I couldn't be prouder of Lesleigh. This honor is a testament to her leadership and hard work."

The USPOULTRY Foundation's mission is to support the recruitment and training of the brightest students, seek and fund scientific research, foster student scientists and promote careers in the poultry and egg industry.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.