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Debt Relief Scholarship Program Expanded, Renamed

January 19, 2021 — AASV Staff

The AASV Foundation has increased the number of student debt-relief scholarships to be awarded in 2021. Three $5000 scholarships will be provided to early-career swine practitioners through the "Dr Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt Relief Endowment," which was renamed to honor the donors who established the scholarship program.

The scholarships are available to AASV members engaged in private practice who are 2 to 5 years post-graduation from veterinary school (2016-2018) and who carry a significant student debt burden.

The scholarship program was initiated two years ago with a $110,000 contribution to the foundation by the Conrad Schmidt and Family Endowment. Dr Schmidt, a charter member of AASV, explained, "Together, Judy and I noticed that many new DVM graduates interested in swine medicine begin their professional life with heavy educational debt obligations. It is our desire to help AASV members who have dedicated their professional skills to swine herd health and production."

Since then, the number of applicants for the scholarship demonstrated a need to expand the program to support more early-career swine veterinarians who are carrying a heavy student debt load.

Applications are being accepted through January 31 for the scholarships to be awarded during the 2021 AASV Annual Meeting. The application form is available at aasv.org/foundation/debtrelief.php. The following criteria will be used to select the scholarship recipient:

  1. Joined AASV as a student enrolled in an AVMA-recognized college of veterinary medicine
  2. Attended the AASV Annual Meeting as a student
  3. Maintained continuous membership in AASV since graduation from veterinary school
  4. Is at least 2 years and at most 5 years post-graduation from veterinary school (2016, 2017, 2018 DVM/VMD graduates)
  5. Has been engaged in private veterinary practice, 50% or more devoted to swine, providing on-farm service directly to independent pork producers. Veterinarians who work for production companies, pharmaceutical companies, or universities are not eligible for the scholarship.
  6. Has a significant student debt burden

For more information, contact the AASV Foundation: aasv@aasv.org, 515-465-5255.

AASV staff contributed to or researched this story. For more information about the AASV, please visit http://www.aasv.org/.