AVMA reveals 2021 Animal Welfare Assessment Contest winners

(Photo courtesy of the AVMA).

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recently virtually hosted the 21st annual Animal Welfare Assessment Contest (AWJAC) featuring a record 263 participants representing 28 universities and 8 countries completing online assessments of animal welfare in an array of settings.

According to an organizational release, the participants included undergraduates, graduate students, veterinary students, veterinary technicians, AVMA member veterinarians, and members of international veterinary medical associations who were offered a structured chance to practice their assessment skills and display their findings to an expert panel of scientists and veterinarians specializing in animal welfare. The species covered in the scenarios included boars, domestic cats, and psittacines (eg, parrots, macaws, cockatoos and lories).

Individual winners in the Undergraduate Junior Division were:

• First place—Erin Stockland, Texas A&M University
• Second place—Jenna Volinski, Michigan State University
• Third place—Jessie Bouterse, Ohio State University
• Fourth place—Samuel Suh, Texas A&M University
• Fifth place—Katherine Gellhausen, Texas A&M University

Team winners in the Undergraduate Junior Division were:

• First place—Michigan State University
• Second place—Texas A&M University
• Third place—Ohio State University
• Fourth place—Texas A&M Commerce
• Fifth place—University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Individual winners in the Undergraduate Senior Division were:

• First place—Madison Pinkerton, Ohio State University
• Second place—MacKenzie Chapman, The Ohio State University
• Third place—Kaitlyn Rhine, Kansas State University
• Fourth place—Shauna Zisis, University of Guelph
• Fifth place—Sarah Kay, University of Guelph

Team winners in the Undergraduate Senior Division were:

• First place—Ohio State University
• Second place—Kansas State University
• Third place—Michigan State University
• Fourth place—University of Guelph
• Fifth place—University of Kentucky

Individual winners in the Graduate Division were:

• First place—Sara Pantel, Tufts University
• Second place—Kaitlyn St. Charles, University of Minnesota
• Third place—Clara Dell, Tufts University
• Fourth place—Tawni Williams, University of Illinois
• Fifth place—Meagan Abraham, Purdue University

Team winners in the Graduate Division were:

• First place—Purdue University
• Second place—Ohio State University
• Third place—University of Kentucky
• Fourth place—Tufts University
• Fifth place—University of Guelph

Individual winners in the Veterinary Division were:

• First place—Tannaz Zafarnia, Long Island University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Second place—Magnus Yoshimura, Long Island University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Third place—Bayla Bessemer, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Fourth place—Julie French, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
• Fifth place—Shannon Kelley, Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Team winners in the Veterinary Division were:

• First place—Long Island University College of Veterinary Medicine Team 1
• Second place—Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Third place—Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Fourth place—Atlantic Veterinary College
• Fifth place—Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph

Top Placing Individual in the Interactive Assessment were:

• Undergraduate Junior Individual—Zoey Witruk, University of Illinois
• Undergraduate Senior Individual—Blair Wermuth, University of Wisconsin River-Falls
• Veterinary Individual—Jasmine Hanson, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Graduate Individual—Jasmine Muszik, McGill University

Top Placing Team in the Interactive Assessment were:

• Undergraduate Junior Team—Michigan State University
• Undergraduate Senior Team—University of Minnesota
• Veterinary Team—Atlantic Veterinary College
• Graduate Team—Ohio State University

"Congratulations are due not only to this year's winners, but to all of the participants who made this year's competition the largest yet," said Jose Arce, DVM, president of the AVMA, in the release.

"It's wonderful to see so many students and veterinarians participate in an event that’s so important to the recognition and advancement of animal welfare in the veterinary profession and in our society. The knowledge, connections, and skills gained over the course of the contest will benefit the participants and the animals they treat for a lifetime," he added.

What’s more, the contest featured presentations on animal welfare issues in the dairy industry, swine industry, rodeo, companion animal medicine, and wildlife. A virtual networking reception enabled participants to engage with animal welfare experts working in industry, academia, clinical practice, and not-for-profit organizations. Plus, AWJAC participants had the opportunity to earn up to 6 hours of continuing education credit.

Founded in 2001 at Michigan State University as the Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest, the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest was modeled after traditional livestock, horse and meat judging competitions. The current Animal Welfare Assessment Contest is funded in part through an educational grant from Merck Animal Health and it unites students internationally.

Reference

Winners announced for 2021 AVMA Animal Welfare Assessment Contest. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. November 23, 2021. Accessed November 23, 2021. https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/winners-announced-2021-avma-animal-welfare-assessment-contest