Hills contest awards gift of one year of tuition to selected veterinary student

Topeka, Kan. - 6/29/07 - A scholarship for one year of tuition was awarded to an Oregon State University student, chosen as the winner of a Hill's Pet Nutrition-sponsored contest.

The up to $25,000 prize was provided through the Hill's Big Win Scholarship Challenger, and awarded to Brianna Beechler, fourth-year OSU veterinary student.

To register for the contest, veterinary students attended a Hill's-sponsored Big Win meeting at their school, and one winner was selected after each presentation. The winners received an expense-paid trip to the American College of Internal Veterinary Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in Seattle earlier this month, where they were able to gain first-class continuing education, networking and exploration of the latest cutting-edge developments in animal health.

"I am extremely thankful to Hill's for providing me with the opportunity to attend the ACVIM Forum, because it was such a rewarding experience. Many of us are in the process of acquiring more student loans each year during veterinary school; however, receiving the Hill's Big Win scholarship is a great help because it will take care of paying for my last year of school," Beechler says.

She was announced as the scholarship winner, selected by online voting, at the forum. OSU's Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) chapter will also receive a $5,000 donation.

"The Big Win Scholarship will have a significant impact on Brianna's ability to manage her educational expenses, which can be a burden for new graduates entering practice," says Cyril Clarke, BVSc, MS, PhD, DACVCP, and dean of OSU's College of Veterinary Medicine.