Merck Animal Health Awards $270,000 in Scholarship Support to 54 Veterinary Students in North America

Madison, N.J., May 3, 2022 – Merck Animal Health has partnered with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) since 2013 to provide scholarship support to hundreds of veterinary students. This year, we are pleased to announce that 54 veterinary students received scholarships through the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. The selected second- and third-year students pursuing careers in companion animal or large animal medicine will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to support their education.

“This annual scholarship is especially meaningful to us given the broad impact it has on veterinary students,” said Scott Bormann, Senior Vice President, North America, Merck Animal Health. “As we further our unconditional commitment the veterinary profession, we’re pleased to support 37 companion animal veterinary students and 17 large animal veterinary students this year.” 

The AVMF, the charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association, has supported veterinary students for more than five decades.

“The American Veterinary Medical Foundation is honored to have partnered again with Merck Animal Health to recognize the future of veterinary medicine, represented by these exceptional veterinary students,” said Dr. Douglas Kratt, Chair, AVMF Board of Directors. “Thanks to Merck Animal Health’s generous commitment, scholarship recipients have additional resources to help them pursue their educational and professional goals and opportunities. We congratulate the outstanding 54 scholarship recipients and thank Merck Animal Health for its continued support of students and the veterinary profession.”

Award recipients from U.S., Canadian and Caribbean veterinary schools accredited through the AVMA were selected based on academic excellence, financial need, leadership and area of interest within the profession. The scholarship recipients are:

Jenna Sullivan, University of Tennessee, Companion Animal/Equine Kayla Chase, University of Minnesota, Companion Animal/Equine Katie Fleming, Tufts University, Companion Animal/Equine Kristina Junghans, Western University – California, Companion Animal/Equine Imara Beattie, University of Saskatchewan, Companion Animal/Equine Gabriela Gonzalez, North Carolina State University, Companion Animal/Equine Alexandra Mayhew, University of Tennessee, Companion Animal/Equine Crystal Liu, Washington State University, Companion Animal/Equine Janelle Thomas, Washington State University, Companion Animal/Equine Madison Caldwell, North Carolina State University, Companion Animal/Equine Gabriella Landazuri Saltos, University of Pennsylvania, Companion Animal/Equine Shumin Li, Kansas State University, Companion Animal/Equine Kyleigh Tyler, The Ohio State University, Companion Animal/Equine Vibushitha Logeswaran, Ross University, Companion Animal/Equine Madeline Colosimo, Iowa State University, Companion Animal/Equine Abigail Bamberger, The Ohio State University, Companion Animal/Equine Reshmi Sensharma, University of Pennsylvania, Companion Animal/Equine Morgan Gunn, Texas A & M University, Companion Animal/Equine Emory Triance, The Ohio State University, Companion Animal/Equine Wiley Archibald, The Ohio State University, Companion Animal/Equine John Musgnung, University of Pennsylvania, Companion Animal/Equine Madelaine Redd, Washington State University, Companion Animal/Equine Kara Brady, University of Tennessee, Companion Animal/Equine Kaylee Montney, Cornell University, Companion Animal/Equine Thomas Bunch, Auburn University, Companion Animal/Equine Joseph Cook, Western University – California, Companion Animal/Equine Jessica Jones, Mississippi State University, Companion Animal/Equine Aarthi Sankaran, University of Minnesota, Companion Animal/Equine Emily Flores, Texas A & M University, Companion Animal/Equine Hannah Pray, Mississippi State University, Companion Animal/Equine Joanna Copio, The Ohio State University, Companion Animal/Equine Vincent Leong, University of Missouri, Companion Animal/Equine Rachel Park, Tufts University, Companion Animal/Equine Leeza Kao, Western University – California, Companion Animal/Equine Daana Roach, University of Pennsylvania, Companion Animal/Equine Vickie Sloan, Mississippi State University, Companion Animal/Equine Sarah Brown, University of Tennessee, Companion Animal/Equine Stephanie Grba, Texas A&M University, Food animal/aquaculture Lillian Feider, University of Wisconsin, Food animal/aquaculture Santana Nez, University of Arizona, Food animal/aquaculture Kim Nguyen, University of Minnesota, Food animal/aquaculture Bailey Bodeen, University of Wisconsin, Food animal/aquaculture Madeline Zutz, University of Wisconsin, Food animal/aquaculture Vladimir Tadic, University of Calgary, Food animal/aquaculture Nathan Debner, University of Minnesota, Food animal/aquaculture Jacqueline Risalvato, University of Georgia, Food animal/aquaculture Jared Sanderson, Michigan State University, Food animal/aquaculture Emily Grace Fletcher, The Ohio State University, Food animal/aquaculture Katie Callahan, University of Minnesota, Food animal/aquaculture Kara Valasek, Iowa State University, Food animal/aquaculture Rebecca Tirabassi, Tufts University, Food animal/aquaculture Xiaodi Whitfield, University of Tennessee, Food animal/aquaculture Jaclyn Cubillas, University of Arizona, Food animal/aquaculture Sam Waddell, University of Minnesota, Food animal/aquaculture

About Merck Animal Health

For over 130 years, Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to TheScience of Healthier Animals^®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

About the American Veterinary Medical Foundation

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) is the charitable arm of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. More than 99,000 member veterinarians worldwide are engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. For nearly 60 years, the foundation has been helping veterinarians help animals with support for education, advocacy, service, and research programs and activities. Visit AVMF.org for more information.