Poultry Science Department Honors Outstanding Students

Three students from the Department of Poultry Science were recently recognized for their achievements in academics.

Each department in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences honors its top bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. students. The poultry science department honored Jossie Santamaria, James Higuita and Taylor Schubauer.

Santamaria was named as the 2024 Outstanding Ph.D. Student. He is from Los Anastacios, Dolega, Panama, and he chose to pursue a graduate degree in poultry science to make a difference in the academic industry.

"I chose poultry science because of the many opportunities, especially in food security and sustainability," Santamaria said. "I am dedicated to fostering a supportive, diverse and innovative academic environment that empowers individuals to excel and explore their potential."

He said his time with the department helped him build relationships.

"The most valuable lesson I learned here was that building relationships embedded in genuine kindness, encouragement and a collaborative mindset is the ultimate treasure," Santamaria said.

His favorite part of the department was the people he met and interacted with.

"Faculty, staff and other students were always ready to assist me if I had questions or needed help with research or classes," Santamaria said. "It is enriching and inspiring to be surrounded by people who care about your academic and personal success."

Santamaria's future plans include pursuing research, teaching and working within the academic industry.

"I would like to secure a position as a post-doctoral fellow, concentrating on collaborations that advance the understanding of the systemic immune responses to different types or poultry vaccines," Santamaria said. "I also want to disseminate knowledge by publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at professional conferences. I also want to gain more teaching experience and develop courses concentrating on poultry immunology and infectious diseases. Eventually, I would like to transition to a faculty position to mentor undergraduate and graduate students."

The 2024 Outstanding M.S. Student was James Higuita. Higuita is from Medellin, Columbia, and he gained real-world experience throughout his time in the department.

"I loved learning how applied research provides practical alternatives to the challenges and questions of the poultry industry, positively impacting the health and welfare of the birds, as well as production efficiency," Higuita said.

He chose to further his education in poultry science to help find answers.

"I've always been passionate about poultry farming, and I believe the poultry industry has the potential to address global challenges such as food security and sustainability," Higuita said.

Higuita plans to pursue his Ph.D. in poultry science at the University of Arkansas and one day work in the U.S. poultry industry where he can apply the skills he acquired during his education.

The final student honored was Taylor Schubauer. She was named as the 2024 Outstanding Senior, and she is from Gibbon, Nebraska.

Her favorite part of being a student in the poultry science department was interacting with faculty and learning how to handle change.

"All of my professors were open to conversations about anything, whether or not it was related to class," Schubauer said. "The environment created by poultry science faculty has been extremely positive. Before starting my education, change was something I despised, but now I can face it head-on."

She chose to major in poultry science to make change within the industry.

"Poultry has been part of my life for as long as I can remember," Schubauer said. "I knew I wanted to be a part of the industry from a very young age. I want to change parts of live production to make the process more sustainable while increasing the output at the same time."

She plans to work full-time in live production as a hatchery assistant or service technician. Schubauer said she wants to bring new and exciting ideas to the industry.

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