Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), continued its commitment to the swine industry’s next generation of veterinarians by partnering with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation (AASVF) to sponsor the 2024 recipients of the AASVF and Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program.
Scholarships, totaling $50,000, were awarded to 10 veterinary students for 2024. The recipients were announced on February 26 during the AASV Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.
The following students were each awarded a $5,000 scholarship:
- Kristen Cleaver, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2026
- Cassidy Cordon, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2026
- Juan Hernández Cuevas, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2025
- Megan Neveau Thomas, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2025
- Samantha Nixon, Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, Class of 2026
- Elizabeth Ohl, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2026
- Kendall Sattler, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2026
- Adam Steffensmeier, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2025
- Matilyn Wheeler, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2026
- Mallory Wilhelm, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2026
"Merck Animal Health is committed to the veterinary profession and is proud to honor these students who represent the next generation of veterinary leaders for the swine industry," said Justin Welsh, DVM, executive director of livestock technical services, Merck Animal Health. "Through our partnership with AASV, we are helping to build students’ knowledge of swine health and well-being as they prepare for a career in this important field."
"The AASV and the AASV Foundation appreciate Merck Animal Health’s long-standing support for the AASVF-Merck Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. Their generous donation enables the AASV Foundation to assist future swine veterinarians with their educational expenses," Harry Snelson, DVM, AASV executive director. "This support has become increasingly important as educational expenses for veterinary students continue to rise."
The scholarship program assists the foundation’s mission to support the development and scholarship of students and veterinarians interested in the swine industry. Second-and third-year students enrolled in American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited or recognized colleges of veterinary medicine in the US, Canada, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean islands are eligible for the scholarship. The AASV Foundation thanks Drs. Justin Brown, Josh Ellingson, Jeff Feder, and Ross Kiehne, for judging this year’s applications. Learn more at http://aasv.org.