BROOKINGS, S.D. – 12 South Dakota State University pre-veterinary students who are accepted to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programs for the fall 2021 were honored on April 30 at the 10th annual South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association/SDSU Stethoscope Ceremony.

“We are so happy to have the chance to recognize these students for their accomplishment of being accepted into veterinary school,” said Russ Daly, professor, SDSU Extension veterinarian and state public health veterinarian. “Veterinary school admission is an extremely competitive process that includes accomplishing an outstanding academic record in a challenging set of classes.

The students accepted to veterinary schools for the fall 2021 include:

• Maria Aesoph, from Highmore, SD will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Mariah Beckmann, from Slayton, MN will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Jana Bruce-Wattier, from Sioux Falls, SD will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Jennifer Campbell, from McIntosh, SD will be attending The Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan
• Miranda Foltz, Hawarden, IA will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Renae Kayser, from Delmont, SD will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Hayley Leibel, from Glencross, SD will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Aydan Mack, from Watertown, SD will be attending Colorado State University
• Elle Moon, from Wall, SD will be attending Iowa State University
• Laura Munger, from West Salem, WI will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Morgan Ridley, from Billings, MT will be attending Montana State University/Washington State University
• Ana Ruiz, from Sioux Falls, SD will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota

“Congratulations to all of our students. It should be noted that a distinguishing factor of veterinary medicine is that it is the only profession in health and the medical field that is trained in comparative medicine,” said Jane Christopher-Hennings, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department Head, at the ceremony. “So, learn your comparative medicine well, stay flexible, adapt, work hard and be open to serve in the future and you will do well.”

The students received stethoscopes engraved with their name and the SDSU emblem. Also, each student honored an individual who made an impact on their path to becoming a veterinarian. Each honored individual said a few encouraging words to their student and presented them with their stethoscope.

“It is a huge accomplishment for the students make it to this point and this tremendous milestone and it is exciting to be able to share this moment with the SDVMA,” said John Killefer, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. “There are so many opportunities ahead of these students and I am looking forward to hearing all of their great success stories.”

Starting in the fall 2021, the first cohort of students will be attending veterinary school at SDSU through the Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine in collaboration with the University of Minnesota. Students who completed the required pre-veterinary curriculum were able to apply to the professional program. Student that are admitted into the program will complete the first two years of their DVM degree at SDSU and then transfer to the University of Minnesota’s college of Veterinary Medicine for their final two years of study. To learn more about the program, contact Gary Gackstetter, director of the SDSU Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine, at gary.gackstetter@sdstate.edu or visit https://www.sdstate.edu/ppvm  

“In order to accomplish their goal of becoming accepted to veterinary school, students must distinguish themselves with experience with animals and with veterinarians, as well as work in their communities and with research projects,” said Daly. “Their undergraduate experiences in and out of the classroom at SDSU will serve them well as they take this next step in their education.”

— SDSU CAFES

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