MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Leigh, Director for Marketing and Communications
Phone: 202/371-9195 x171
Email: sleigh@aavmc.org
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 26, 2024 – The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has awarded twenty-two scholarships to students enrolled in AAVMC member institutions. These scholarships, sponsored by Merck Animal Health, support AAVMC’s efforts as a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion in veterinary medicine.
The Merck Animal Health Diversity Leadership Scholarship recognizes second- and third-year students in good academic and professional standing at an AAVMC member institution. These twenty-one awardees have contributed to enhancing diversity and inclusion through course projects, co-curricular activities, outreach, domestic and community engagement, research, and/or developed an early reputation for influencing others to be inclusive. Each recipient will be awarded a one-time scholarship payment in the amount of $8,000. Click here for a list of awardees and their member schools.
The AAVMC Patricia M. Lowrie Diversity Leadership Scholarship was awarded to Naomi Esquivel, a student at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Esquivel is recognized for showing exemplary promise as a future leader and for significant contributions to enhancing diversity and inclusion in academic veterinary medicine. Naomi co-founded the Illinois student chapter of the Latinx Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA) in September 2022. Esquivel will be issued a one-time payment in the amount of $6,000.
The total diversity scholarships awarded is $182,000.
“We are thrilled to support the next generation of veterinary medical professionals through our valued partnership with Merck Animal Health,” said AAVMC CEO Dr. Andrew T. Maccabe. “These students exemplify AAVMC’s core values of diversity, inclusion and excellence.”
For more information about AAVMC’s scholarship and grant programs, including eligibility requirements and deadlines, please visit awards.aavmc.org.
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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 The Science 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, and its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health-us.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
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