Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine

Students Receive $1,500 through AABP Bovine Veterinary Student Recognition Awards

Summit NJ, Aug. 25, 2010 – Eight bovine veterinary students from across the United States each received $1,500 awards and all-expenses-paid trips to the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) annual conference in Albuquerque, N.M., Aug. 18-21. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health sponsored the Bovine Veterinary Student Recognition Awards Program and recognized the students Aug. 19.

“Bovine veterinarians are a vital and irreplaceable professional resource in the animal-health and food industries,” said Dr. Norm Stewart, livestock technical services manager for Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. “Today’s veterinary students will build upon an established foundation to apply their educations, expertise and unique skill sets to benefit animal health.”
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has sponsored the Bovine Veterinary Student Recognition Awards since 2004 and awarded more than $49,000 to 41 students during that time.

“We’re proud to recognize these students for their achievements," Stewart said. "The investment in the program is only a fraction of the value that these fine students will bring to our industry, and we look forward to watching them excel as they continue to make contributions in the field of bovine veterinary medicine.”

The program recognizes students who exemplify dedication and commitment to dairy and/or beef veterinary medicine. Third- and fourth-year veterinary students are eligible to receive the award. Selection is based on work experience, academic achievements, primary interests in veterinary medicine and career goals.
Gatz Riddell, D.V.M. and executive vice president of AABP, said the monetary award and the all-expense paid trip to the AABP conference is extremely valuable considering the amount of academic debt most veterinary students incur. AABP also believes in the importance of supporting students and providing professional development activities.

“The meetings at the annual conference are very educational, but networking with AABP members provides an even greater impact on the students’ careers,” Riddell said. “The Student Recognition Awards Program is a very important part of AABP’s long-range strategic initiatives that focus on students and AABP’s mission to improve opportunities for careers in bovine medicine.”  

The following students are recipients of the 2010 Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health and AABP Bovine Veterinary Student Recognition Awards:

Elisha Adkins attends the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore. She grew up in eastern Oregon, where cattle, horses and agriculture sparked her early interest in livestock production and 4-H. At age 12, she interned at a local veterinary clinic. Since she was a junior in high school, Adkins has spent more than 600 hours interning at a local veterinary clinic, spending half her time at a feedlot in Pasco, Wash. Adkins interned at a dairy in Boardman, Ore., during the summer of 2009. Her field experiences affirmed her passion for bovine veterinary medicine and taught her the importance of the public education component in a veterinary practice, as she takes on a personal responsibility to portray the livestock industry’s focus not only on food quality and safety but also on animal health and welfare. After Adkins graduates, she plans to begin her career in a mixed animal practice with an emphasis in beef and dairy.

The 2010 student award winners are, left to right: Elizabeth Homerosky, The Ohio State University; Brian Hartschuh, The Ohio State University; Andy Pike, Auburn University; Elisha Adkins, Oregon State University; Clayton Riedell, Iowa State University; Katie (Konkol) Mrdutt, University of Minnesota; and Cassandra Peterson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Missing from photo is Ashley Cockrell, University of California, Davis.