The following individuals received the 2026 Merck Animal Health Diversity Leadership Scholarship. This scholarship program annually recognizes 16 students who contribute to enhancing diversity and inclusion at AAVMC member institutions. Each recipient was nominated by the dean of their respective institutions and received $10,000 in scholarship funds.
Melissa Aguirre, Colorado State University
Anjelica Bautista, Washington State University
Gloria Becerra-Cortes, University of California, Davis
Javelis Marin Castro, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Makenna Daniel, Iowa State University
Kaden Eisenbraun, University of Minnesota
Shadiyah Feliciano, The Ohio State University
Breona Green, University of Florida
Claudia Pantoja Negron, Oklahoma State University
Sydney Paris, Cornell University
Layla Said, Michigan State University
Madeleine Sullivan, University of Georgia
Jordan Toney, Purdue University
Jessica Vester, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
Melissa Waltiere, Midwestern University
Abbey Williams, University of Wisconsin-Madison