Four DVM students from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine—Alicia Bonke, DVM class of 2019, Rheannon Burris, DVM class of 2020, Rachel Griffin, DVM class of 2020, and Jessi Wixtrom, DVM class of 2019—were awarded the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship for 2018.

“I wish to thank the American Veterinary Medical Foundation and Merck Animal Health for selecting me as a recipient of the 2018 Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship,” says Griffin. “Support from the veterinary medical community to veterinary students is very encouraging as we begin our journey into this amazing profession.”

On March 15, 56 scholarships of $5,000 were awarded to second- and -third-year veterinary medical students all around the world—from the Philippines and Bangladesh to Montreal and Colorado—who are members of their institution’s Student American Veterinary Medical Association. Selected students demonstrate academic excellence, financial need, and leadership in an area of interest within the veterinary medical profession.

“The College is proud to have our students’ academic excellence, leadership abilities, and commitment to veterinary medicine recognized through these scholarships,” says Chandra Grabill, assistant dean for Student Wellness and Engagement. “This partnership between Merck Animal Health and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation will help to support our students’ financial success while honoring their outstanding accomplishments.”

Merck Animal Health and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation are committed to supporting exceptional veterinary medical students. They show this dedication by awarding the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship to students attending veterinary medical schools in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and select schools in Southeast Asia and Latin/South America.

“I have been blessed with the opportunity to pursue my passion—small animal internal medicine and surgery—in veterinary medicine,” says Bonke. “Like many of my peers, I rely on financial aid and student loans to finance my education. I cannot put into words my gratitude for the support of organizations like Merck Animal Health and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation.”

For more information about this year’s scholarship recipients, please reference Merck’s press release.