Demonstrates commitment to developing future poultry professionals

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Aviagen^® announced today that it has awarded the 2017 Ian Panton scholarship to Nükhet Samanlı from Aviagen Anadolu in Turkey.

The scholarship was presented to Nükhet on Jan. 29 at the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) 2018 in Atlanta.

It will consist of financial support of up to $7,500 for one year to go toward enhancing Nükhet’s career within the poultry industry. In addition to the funding, she will be mentored by an Aviagen senior manager.

Nükhet and her future goals

Nükhet earned an MBA from Baskent University in Ankara, Turkey, in 2008, and a Bachelor’s in Economics from Bilkent University in Ankara. After working for various technology companies throughout Turkey, she has been a planner for Aviagen Anadolu since 2014. She aims to apply the scholarship funds toward a Ph.D. in Marketing.

“I am honored to receive the Ian Panton scholarship, which will help me fulfil my aspirations to complete my Ph.D. in Marketing. Through this course of in-depth study, I will enhance my knowledge of markets and cultures in Turkey and the Middle East to develop targeted marketing strategies. My ultimate goal is to better serve the company, our customers in Anadolu and the poultry industry as a whole,” explains Nükhet.

Developing future talent

Since the beginning of the Ian Panton program, five employees from throughout Aviagen’s global regions have been awarded an academic scholarship.

“Aviagen remains fully committed to developing our talent, which we consider our most valuable resources,” says Aviagen CEO Jan Henriksen. “We’re proud of Nükhet’s accomplishments and the contributions she has made at Anadolu during the past four years. She has great ambitions, and through the scholarship, we hope to help her achieve her academic and professional goals.”

Honoring an Aviagen and industry great

When Aviagen established the Ian Panton scholarship fund in 2011, its mission was twofold: to support the development of future industry leaders, and to honor Ian Panton, an Aviagen and industry legend.

Panton dedicated four decades of service to Aviagen, its people and its industry. Panton’s history with Aviagen began in Scotland with Ross® Breeders in the early 1970s, and he grew to become CEO of the Aviagen Group worldwide in 2000. While he retired from Aviagen at the end of 2009, he continues to serve the industry by speaking at numerous Aviagen and industry-related events