The American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation awarded scholarships totaling $25,000 to 15 veterinary students.
Jacob Baker, Iowa State University, received the $5000 scholarship for top student presentation. His presentation was titled "Utilizing piglet processing fluids to detect PRRSV by PCR in a low-prevalence population." Zoetis provided the financial support for the Top Student Presenter Award.
Additional scholarships totaling $20,000 were funded by Elanco Animal Health as shown in the accompanying photos.
Four veterinary student presenters received $2,500 scholarships: Kimberlee Baker, Iowa State University, Elizabeth Houston, Iowa State University, Megan Nickel, Iowa State University, and Zhen Yang, University of Minnesota.
Five veterinary student presenters received $1,500 scholarships: Bryant Chapman, Virginia-Maryland Regional CVM, Cassandra Fitzgerald, Iowa State University, Megan Hood, North Carolina State University, Evan Koep, Iowa State University and Mikalah Smith, Iowa State University.
Those student presenters receiving $500 scholarships were: Stephanie Betbeze, Lincoln Memorial University, Rita Anne Neat, Iowa State University, Katie O’Brien, University of Illinois, Joel Steckelberg, Iowa State University and Whitney Webb, Iowa State University.
Fifty-eight veterinary students from 17 universities submitted abstracts for consideration. From those submissions, 15 students were selected to present during the annual meeting. Zoetis, sponsor of the Student Seminar, provided a $750 travel stipend to each student selected to participate.