Twelve AASV Members Receive Debt Relief Grants

February 27, 2024 — Abbey Canon

Twelve $7500 grants were awarded by the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation February 26 during the American Association of Swine Veterinarians 55th Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.

New in 2024, the AASVF-Zoetis Foundation Student Debt Relief Grants, funded by the Zoetis Foundation, are awarded to swine veterinarians who are two to ten years post-graduation. The Dr. Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt Relief Scholarships, funded through the Conrad Schmidt and Family Endowment within the AASV Foundation, are awarded annually to swine veterinarians who are two to five years post-graduation and engaged in private veterinary practice. The intent of both awards is to offset a portion of student loan debt and relieve some of the burden associated with the significant financial cost of completing a veterinary medical education.

AASVF-Zoetis Foundation Student Debt Relief Grants

• Justin Brown, University of Georgia (2016)
• Emily Fry, The Ohio State University (2015)
• Kayla Henness, University of Illinois (2019)
• Megan Kelly, University of Illinois (2020)
• Erin Kettelkamp, University of Illinois (2021)
• Evan Koep, Iowa State University (2019)
• Miranda Medrano, Virginia-Maryland (2020)
• Kathleen O'Brien, University of Illinois (2019)
• Rachel Stika-Jensen, Iowa State University (2021)
• Katie Woodard, St. George's University (2014)

Dr. Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt Relief Scholarships

• Lauren Nagel, University of Illinois (2021)
• Andrea Patterson, Ontario Veterinary College (2020)

All 12 recipients have been continuous members of the AASV since joining as students.

The AASV Foundation thanks Drs. Ross Kiehne, Mike Pierdon, and Carey Sexton for reviewing the 23 applications.

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Abbey Canon is the AASV Director of Public Health and Communications