LUMBER BRIDGE — Mountaire Farms recently awarded $2,500 scholarships to nine children and grandchildren of employees, growers and grain suppliers affiliated with the company’s Lumber Bridge plant.

Twenty-seven scholarships were awarded, and winners received a certificate and a scholarship. The Lumber Bridge recipients include Jonathan Echerd, Joseph Sloan, Caselyn Little, Amanda Brooke Brandon, Anesu Mavhiya, Diem Nguyen, Garrett Brown, Chkylle Boado and Mary Overcash.

“We are proud of this program because it embraces everything that we care about — our employees, our growers, our grain producers and their families,” said Phillip Plylar, president of Mountaire Farms. “And these students have all demonstrated a commitment to their education, and to their communities, which we believe should be celebrated.”

Jonathan Echerd is a graduate of Alexander Central High School and now attends East Carolina University. His parents, Chris and Kim Echerd, are growers for Mountaire Farms in Lumber Bridge.

Joseph Sloan is a graduate of South Iredell High School and now attends Western Carolina University. Both his father, Brian Sloan, and grandfather, Howard Sloan, raise pullets in Lumber Bridge.

Caselyn Little is a graduate of South Stanly High School and now attends Lees McRae College. Her grandfather, Clay Little, is a grower and grain producer for Mountaire Farms in Lumber Bridge.

Amanda Brooke Brandon is a graduate of Starmount High School and now attends North Carolina State University. Her parents, Rex and Amanda Brandon, are breeders for Mountaire Farms in Lumber Bridge.

Anesu Mavhiya is a graduate of Douglas Byrd High School and now attends The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Her father, Borthwell Mavhiya, works in the debone department in Lumber Bridge.

Diem Nguyen is a graduate of Richmond Senior High School and now attends Athens Technical College. Her father is a broiler grower for Mountaire Farms in Lumber Bridge..

Garrett Brown is a graduate of Alexander Central High School and now attends Wilkes Community College. His father, Brandon Brown, is a breeder manager in Lumber Bridge.

Chkylle Boado is a graduate of Westover High School and now attends the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her mother, Christine Johnson, works in the black label department in Lumber Bridge.

Mary Overcash is a graduate of Alexander Central High School and now attends Lees-McRae College. Her grandfather, Gale Smith, is a grower for Mountaire Farms in Lumber Bridge.