Michigan Allied Poultry Industry (MAPI) awarded its third annual scholarships this month to three Michigan college students. This year’s awards went to Michigan State University students Alyssa Botbyl, Ayliffe Allen and Ethan Neiman. The organization awarded two scholarships in 2019 and added the third in 2020.
The MAPI scholarship aims to encourage college students to pursue careers in the poultry industry and support their education and is available to undergraduate or graduate students actively pursuing a career in a poultry-focused agricultural field or business, with the intent to provide financial assistance to future leaders in the Michigan poultry industry. Applicants must have completed a related summer internship in the year that they are applying for scholarship funds.
MAPI 2021 scholarship winners:
Alyssa Botbyl is a freshman at Michigan State University studying animal science. She was the Chapter Sentinel for her high school FFA chapter and is currently part of the Avian Science Club at MSU. Alyssa completed an internship at Sietsema Farms this summer through the Careerline Tech Center’s Agriculture and Animal Science program, and is still employed with the farm, with responsibilities including record keeping, water testing, farm maintenance, bloodwork and animal care.
Ayliffe Allen, senior at MSU, is an Animal Science major, and secretary of the Avian Science Club. She completed the Midwest Poultry Consortium Center of Excellence program as well as a summer internship with Hy-Line North America. Allen worked with the Hy-Line location manager at three different hatcheries and shadowed the Hy-Line auditor inspecting different facilities and farms to learn how to mix and administer vaccines, sex chicks, set eggs, transfer eggs into hatchers and perform necropsies.
Ethan Neiman, DVM candidate in MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, grew up working on a hobby farm, and has now completed two internships in the poultry industry, starting at Konos Inc. and most recently at Herbruck’s, working under Dr. Alex Strauch, layer production veterinarian. In his position at Herbruck’s, Ethan performed necropsies and learned more about husbandry and management. He is now pursuing poultry related externships for his 3rd year of veterinary school, with a goal of becoming a poultry veterinarian. 
“These three students show passion for the industry and a clear drive to succeed in a poultry career when they graduate.” said Allison Brink, MAPI executive director. “The poultry industry is growing and changing, but the constant remains that there will continue to be great job opportunities from caring for animals or animal processing, to tech and engineering jobs, as well as business careers with partners and suppliers in this industry.”
