IAA Poultry & Aquaculture Innovation Scholarship

Awards for this year’s scholarship have been announced. Congratulations to our award recipients!

Technological innovation in the poultry and aquaculture sectors faces challenges. Between the underlying biological complexities and high capital costs, it is difficult to discover and spread transformative ideas. But technology has the potential to radically reshape these fields and unlock new efficiencies; it just requires visionaries who can rise to the challenge and push beyond.

The IAA Poultry & Aquaculture Innovation Scholarship (IPAIS) was established to recognize and support the next generation of leaders who will drive technological progress in poultry and aquaculture. We seek to empower students from agricultural backgrounds who believe that animal agriculture can thrive by aligning economic incentives with animal welfare and consumer values.

This scholarship awards up to three undergraduate students with $4,000 and career advancement opportunities within the poultry and aquaculture sectors. Applicants should be pursuing a career in either the poultry or aquaculture sector and demonstrate a desire to meaningfully contribute to the future of these industries through technology and innovation.

2026 Award Recipients

Jaehyoung Park

Cornell University (‘28)

Jaehyoung Park is a sophomore at Cornell CALS (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), majoring in Biological Sciences. Jaehyoung is passionate about fish—from ecology and biology to fish’s economic and cultural values. One of his primary interests is aquaculture, which he sees as a viable, sustainable, and eco-friendly form of food/protein production. Similar to many agricultural practices, he is interested in integrating technology with aquaculture to improve the efficiency and quality of fish health and production. Jaehyoung’s biology major at Cornell focuses on fish, and his CS minor teaches him how computer technologies can be applied to aquaculture. He maintains tilapia tanks and assists with aquaculture research at Won lab to gain real-life experience working in aquaculture settings. Moving forward, Jaehyoung hopes to pursue a graduate degree in aquaculture and further integrate technology into his fish expertise.

Westen Vardeman

Texas A&M (‘27)

Westen Vardeman is a third year student at Texas A&M university studying Poultry Science. He grew up on his family’s cow/calf operation in East Texas, and describes himself as a “third generation poultry lifer”. Growing up, he was involved in FFA at an early age, participating in leadership events and the Poultry Judging Team. He has worked for Tyson Foods, conducted poultry nutritional research for Texas A&M, and worked on large cattle operations. In summer 2026 he plans to travel to Australia to work on a feedlot and learn about cattle nutrition and feeding. He is an outdoorsy person who enjoys all things related to roping, fishing, and hunting. After he graduates, he plans to pursue a PhD in animal nutrition at either Texas Tech or Texas A&M.

Shayenn Votaw

NCSU (‘27)

Shayenn Votaw is a student at North Carolina State University pursuing a degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering Technology with a minor in Animal Science. Raised on family-operated swine farms in southeastern North Carolina, she developed a strong foundation in animal agriculture and a deep appreciation for the dedication required to care for livestock.

Through hands-on farm experience and undergraduate research with the USDA-NIFA funded Proactive Pig Production (P3) project, she has combined her background in production agriculture with her interest in engineering and emerging technologies. After graduation, Shayenn plans to pursue a career focused on precision livestock farming and the integration of advanced technologies to improve animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and production efficiency. She is passionate about developing innovative solutions that support producers while strengthening the future of animal agriculture.

Application Details

Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Graduating high school senior or a full-time undergraduate student enrolled at a U.S. or Canada-based two- or four-year accredited institution for the 2026–2027 academic year

  • Pursuing a degree in Animal Science, Agricultural or Biosystems Engineering, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, or a related field focused on advancing animal agriculture through innovation

  • Planning to work in the poultry or aquaculture industries after graduating

  • GPA of 3.0 or higher

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated on the strength of demonstrated interest in animal agtech and alignment with Innovate Animal Ag’s mission areas. We are especially interested in students who:

  • Exhibit a strong interest in the poultry or aquaculture sectors

  • Have hands-on experience working with livestock and/or animal agriculture technologies

  • Show a commitment to advancing the care and wellbeing of livestock animals in production settings

Required Materials

Applicants must submit the following materials to be considered:

  • One letter of recommendation from a current or former instructor or an industry professional. Letters should be sent directly to scholarship@innovateanimalag.org and must be sent no later than December 15. Recommenders should include the applicant’s full name in the letter.

  • Copy of the applicant’s most recent academic transcript

  • Short answer responses outlining the applicant’s interest in and experience with animal agriculture

  • Select candidates will be asked to interview with IAA before finalizing award decisions