Future swine practitioners receive scholarships

Back (left to right): Jack Creel, DVM, with Merck Animal Health; Adam Steffensmeier; Mallory Wilhelm; Elizabeth Ohl. Front (left to right): Megan Neveau Thomas; Matilyn Wheeler; Kristen Cleaver; Kendall Sattler (Image courtesy of Merck Animal Health)

Merck Animal Health announced that is has continued its partnership with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation (AASVF) to sponsor the 2024 recipients of the AASVF and Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. The program is working to foster and support the swine industry’s next generation of veterinarians.

“The AASV and the AASV Foundation appreciate Merck Animal Health’s long-standing support for the AASVF-Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. Their generous donation enables the AASV Foundation to assist future swine veterinarians with their educational expenses,” said Harry Snelson, DVM, AASV executive director, in an organizational release.¹ “This support has become increasingly important as educational expenses for veterinary students continue to rise.”

According to the release, to be eligible for the scholarship, students must be in their second-and-third year of school and are enrolled in American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited or recognized schools of veterinary medicine in the United States, Mexico, South America, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. The selected students were awarded $5,000 and are as follows:¹

• Adam Steffensmeier, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Cassidy Cordon, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
• Elizabeth Ohl, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Juan Hernández Cuevas, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Kendall Sattler, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Kristen Cleaver, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Mallory Wilhelm, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Matilyn Wheeler, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Megan Neveau Thomas, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Samantha Nixon, Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan

“Merck Animal Health is committed to the veterinary profession and is proud to honor these students who represent the next generation of veterinary leaders for the swine industry,” said Justin Welsh, DVM, executive director of livestock technical services, Merck Animal Health.¹ “Through our partnership with AASV, we are helping to build students’ knowledge of swine health and well-being as they prepare for a career in this important field.”

The awarded students were honored during the 55th AASV Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, on February 24-27, 2024.

Reference

Merck Animal Health awards $50,000 in scholarships to future swine practitioners. News release. Merck Animal Health. February 28, 2024. Accessed February 28, 2024. https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/newsroom/merck-animal-health-awards-50000-in-scholarships-to-future-swine-practitioners-2024