Awards Ceremony Honors Students

More than $200,000 in scholarships and awards was given to 164 veterinary students at the April 20 ceremony. We deeply thank all those who contribute to these awards, which are crucial for encouraging and rewarding our students.

Five new awards were given:

Dr. Linda Berent Awards
This award is given to four members of the Theta Chapter of the Omega Tau Sigma veterinary service fraternity who have bettered themselves and the profession, been involved in community service, and demonstrated enthusiasm in the chapter. Dr. Berent served as the OTS advisor for many years.

Dr. and Mrs. Lloyd Helper Veterinary Student and Faculty Collegiality Awards
Noting that “the students of today are our colleagues in the profession of veterinary medicine after graduation,” professor emeritus Dr. Lloyd Helper and his wife, Jean, created an award for one veterinary student and one faculty member who have best demonstrated collegiality and teamwork in the College. The award seeks to enhance a cooperative learning environment among students and a constructive mentoring or coaching relationship between faculty and students. During Dr. Helper’s years on faculty at the College, 1955 to 1993, he served as head of the ophthalmology section and as associate dean of student affairs.

Bill Lang Wildlife Memorial Scholarship
Presented to a first- or second-year student volunteer of the Wildlife Medical Clinic for demonstrated interest in wildlife medicine and rehabilitation, this award was sponsored by the friends and family of the late Bill Lang, founder of Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Prospect Heights, Ill.

Carl and Libbie Thetford Scholarship
This scholarship goes to a veterinary student originally from Jackson, Johnson, Saline, or Williamson counties in Illinois. It is sponsored by the Carl and Libbie Thetford Endowment Fund, which was created from the estate of these southern Illinois residents, who were avid animal lovers and thought highly of the veterinary profession, especially the care provided to their pets by Dr. Mike Troop (IL ’87).

Western States Veterinary Conference Scholarship
Presented to a third-year veterinary student based upon leadership potential and need, this award includes funds to attend the Western States Veterinary Conference as well as $2,500 applied to tuition and fees.

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George H. Alexander Memorial Scholarship
Joseph Lyman

American Animal Hospital Association Award
Mark Bobofchak

American Association of Feline Practitioners’ Student Award
Tamara Sloan

American College of Veterinary Radiology Award
Emily Swank

American College of Veterinary Surgeons Awards
Jennifer Hott, Large Animal Surgery
David Brdecka, Small Animal Surgery

American Kennel Club Scholarship
Debra Jackson (2001-02 Recipient)

American Veterinary Medical Foundation Scholarships
Tracy Endres
Heather Mannix
Judie Walker

Association of Avian Veterinarians Award
Beth Ellen McNamara

Auxiliary to the American Veterinary Medical Association Award
Abigail Cowan

Dr. Linda Berent Awards
Tracy Frey
Elizabeth Papp
Melissa McDearmon
Sandra Miller

Bil•Jac Student Scholarship in Nutrition
Dawn Karnicki

Dr. Loyd E. Boley Scholarship
Patrick Rodawold

Dr. and Mrs. Wally Brandt Scholarship
Zachary Janssen

Chicago Veterinary Medical Association President’s Scholastic Award
James Buhl

Chicago Veterinary Medical Association Scholarship
Emily Marhevsky

Class of 1952 Food Animal Scholarship
Nicolas Rippel

Class of 1983 Endowment Scholarship
Jennifer Libbra

L. L. Cluster Scholarships
Megan Borgstrom
Lorien Pearlman

College of Veterinary Medicine Academic Excellence Awards
Class of 2002
Christine Slagel, first
Karen Turner, second
James Buhl, third
Class of 2003
Michelle Diesen, first
Dawn Karnicki, second
Laurie Pearlman, third
Class of 2004
Jeremy Larson, first
Christopher Stauthammer, first
Kathleen Biddle, second
Amy Sultenfuss, third
Class of 2005
Justin Allen, first
Susan Shack, first
Jason Bundy, second
Adam Conroy, second
Diana McMahon, second
Jennifer Steele, second
Laura Brazelton, third
Rebecca Dieter, third
Todd Horowitz, third

Lisa Coole Memorial Scholarships
Joel Huffman
Karen Louis

Dr. Richard E. Dierks Veterinary Alumni Fund Scholarships
Justin Allen
Dawn Karnicki
Jeremy Larson

Dr. Joseph L. Dorner Award
Christopher Welch

Dr. Walter and Mary Lou Fehrenbacher Scholarship
Gregory Laughlin

Alice H. Fruit Memorial Scholarship
Jason Smith

Anna M. Gulick Scholarship
David Rehagen

Hannah Rescue Scholarship
Heidi Nicolls

Dr. H.J. Hardenbrook Equine Scholarships
John Garrity
Kimberly Kauffman

Dr. Allan H. Hart Scholarships
Karren Crownhart
Deborah Gotkowski

Dr. and Mrs. Lloyd Helper Veterinary Student and Faculty Collegiality Awards
Jennifer Libbra
Dr. Matthew Wallig

Hill’s Buddy Award
Christopher Serpico

Dr. H. Preston Hoskins Scholarship
Joel Huffman

Illinois Academy of Veterinary Practice Continuing Education Award
Jennifer Stone

Illinois Reptile and Amphibian Medicine Awards
Dana Hall
Nicole Johnson-Bailen

Illinois Veterinary Medical Alumni Association Award
Emily Swank

Illinois Walking Horse Association Award
Kristine Machmer

Lily Ireland Scholarship
Christopher Dupuis

Professor Virginia R. Ivens Scholarship
Jennifer Burggraf (2002-04 Recipient)

Kankakee River Valley Kennel Club Scholarship
Jonathan Miller

Dr. Edward C. Khuen Memorial Award
Emily Swank

Dr. Vaylord Ladwig Memorial Scholarship
Nicolas Rippel

Lake County Humane Society Scholarship
Angela Johanson

Bill Lang Wildlife Memorial Scholarship
Julie Barr

Patricia Lawrence Memorial Scholarship
Kristin Malinowski

Tanner Leong Memorial Award
Tamara Sloan

Dr. Roger P. Link Scholarship
Matthew Allender

Dr. Heidi Lott Memorial Award
Christopher Gensler

Dr. William Magrane Clinical Ophthalmology Award
Mark Bobofchak

Dr. John P. Manning Award
Kathryn Wotman

Dr. Patrick C. Matchette Scholarship
Mary Mansfield

Dr. and Mrs. David McConnell Scholarship
Kyla Kuhns

Dr. and Mrs. C. David McLaughlin Scholarship
Kevin Dajka

Merck AgVet Awards
Kelly Ballinger
Wes Baumgartner
Mark Bobofchak
James Buhl
Heather Miyagi Elshire
Kelly Fabish
Heidi Kellum
Natalie Marks
Lidia Pallo
Jill Patronagio
Laura Riordan
Lori Ross
Pamela Rothenbaum
Andrea Sangster
Christine Slagel
Tamara Sloan
Linnaea Stull
Karen Turner
Amy Waggoner

Dr. Christopher Moberly Scholarship
Elizabeth Papp

Multicultural Fellowships
Kimberly Wu (Class of 2005)

Nestlé Purina Award
Heather Mannix

North American Veterinary Conference Award
Kevin Dajka

Novartis Animal Health Award for Academic Excellence in Parasitology
Anna Gregard

Pfizer Veterinary Student Award
Heather Miyagi Elshire

Pharmacia Award
Kayla Mohr

Pharmacia Companion Animal Award
Christopher Welch

Pharmacia Large Animal Award
Heidi Nicolls

Severn Provus and Birdell Eck Provus Scholarship
Tamara Fisher

Dr. Lester Puhse Memorial Award
Steven Jacobs

Charles Renegar Family Scholarship
Caroline Tonozzi

Dr. Harry Reynolds Pathology Award
Christopher Stauthammer

Dr. J.E. Salsbury Scholarships
Megan Borgstrom
Michelle Diesen
Tracy Endres
Daniel Grove
Dana Hall
Dawn Karnicki
Sarah Klunk
Jennifer Libbra
Laurie Pearlman
Lorien Pearlman
Bradley Pikas
Shaina Pruden
Heidi Richardson
Tina Stortzum
Abraham Trone
Brett Wasik

Dr. Jesse Sampson Award
Christopher Stauthammer

Sandrik Family Scholarships
Felicia Leung
Brian Lucas

Scamps Top Herder Memorial Award
Nicole Johnson-Bailen

Schering-Plough Animal Health Scholarships
Cecilia Jap, Companion Animal
Emily Swank, Large Animal

Smack Dab’s Agility Club Scholarship
Steven Jacobs

Dr. Erwin Small Scholarships
Michael Adkesson
Gregory Laughlin
Rebecca Swearingen
Monique Wiggins

Small Animal Executive Veterinary Program Scholarship
Jodi Echternkamp

Sonata and Dvorak Behavioral Medicine Scholarship
Nicole Johnson-Bailen

Sophie’s and Gypsy’s Golden Heart Awards
Heidi Kellum, Sophie’s
Pamela Rothenbaum, Gypsy’s

Southern Illinois Veterinary Medical Association Scholarships
Ashlee Beanland
Matthew Saxe
Tina Stortzum

Dr. Donald W. Spencer Memorial Scholarship
Laurie Pearlman

Stadheim Foundation Veterinary Scholarship
Valerie Mahoney

Dr. Thomas B. Steffen Scholarships
Christopher Gunnon
Christopher Shirkey

Students for Equal Access to Learning Scholarships
Rachel Beard
Carol Curry
Jason Smith

Carl and Libbie Thetford Scholarship
Jonathan Kelley

Edith Tomlinson Award
James Buhl

University Honors—Bronze Tablet
Stephanie Locke

Upjohn Team Award
George Eales

Veterinary Centers of America, Inc., Student Scholarships
Jennifer Cameron
Stacy Furgang

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Award
Tracy Frey

Kathleen Werner Memorial Scholarship
Heidi Richardson

Western States Veterinary Conference Scholarship
Joel Huffman

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