Nicholas Sallas (left) receives The J. Paul Thaxton Graduate Assistantship Award. Presenting the award are (left to right): Mike Morris, KFC's animal welfare manager, Professor Mike Kidd, head of the Mississippi State University Poultry Science Department and Dr Yvonne Vizzier Thaxton, professor in the Mississippi State University Poultry Science Department and widow of Dr J. Paul Thaxton.

Nicholas Joseph Sallas of Columbiana, Alabama has been named the first recipient of the J. Paul Thaxton Graduate Assistantship for the study of Animal Welfare. The assistantship at Mississippi State University's Poultry Science Department is funded by KFC and the Yum! Brands Foundation.

The graduate assistantship is named in honour of the late Dr J. Paul Thaxton, a former professor of poultry science at Mississippi State University and member of KFC's Animal Welfare Advisory Council. Dr Thaxton passed away in October 2007.

"It's a privilege for KFC to support Nick's work and at the same time honour the memory of Dr Thaxton," said Mike Morris, KFC's animal welfare manager. "We are delighted to continue our association with Mississippi State University (MSU) and we know that Nick will continue Dr Thaxton's important work in advancing poultry welfare."

Mr Sallas received his undergraduate degree in poultry science from MSU and is now working on a Master of Science degree with emphasis in animal welfare. He credits a 2006 seminar presented by Dr Thaxton with introducing him to the idea of animal welfare as a graduate research area.

"The Poultry Science Department at Mississippi State University is honored that KFC and the Yum! Brands Foundation have provided this assistantship in the name of the late Dr J. Paul Thaxton," said Professor Mike Kidd, head of the Mississippi State University Poultry Science Department. "This financial support will help us continue Dr. Thaxton's important poultry welfare research work and it is a testament to the importance KFC and Yum! Brands place on welfare research."