There’s little question how much the swine industry values the next generation. The evidence showed in an outpouring of scholarships and grants presented during the 2025 American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) annual meeting, held in San Francisco, Calif., March 1-4.
Merck Animal Health Awards $50,000 in Scholarships to Future Swine Practitioners
Merck Animal Health is continuing its commitment to the next generation of veterinarians in the swine industry by partnering with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation (AASVF) to sponsor the 2025 recipients of the AASVF and Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program.
The following students were each awarded a $10,000 scholarship:
Kaitlyn Forrest, North Carolina State University, Class of 2027
Alek Goll, Iowa State University, Class of 2026
Lauren Makovics, Michigan State University, Class of 2027
Casondra Snow, University of Minnesota, Class of 2027
Bailey Ward, The Ohio State University, Class of 2026
“Merck Animal Health is committed to the veterinary profession and is proud to honor these students who represent the next generation of veterinary leaders for the swine industry,” Justin Welsh, D.V.M., executive director of livestock technical services, Merck Animal Health, says in a release. “Through our partnership with AASV, we are helping to build students’ knowledge of swine health and well-being as they prepare for a career in the veterinary profession.”
Kansas State University Veterinary Student Receives David A. Schoneweis Scholarship
Annika Senn, a first-year student at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded the David A. Schoneweis Scholarship. The children of the late Dr. David Schoneweis established a scholarship in his memory to benefit swine-interested students from Kansas State University (KSU) and Oklahoma State University (OSU). The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a student or students from KSU or OSU who participate in the student oral or poster presentations during the AASV Annual Meeting, based upon a selection rubric prepared with the oversight and approval of the Schoneweis family.
Senn presented her research, “Effect of antibiotic and stimbiotic interventions in the periparturient period on sow mortality,” during the AASV Student Poster Session. She was one of 26 students presenting a poster.
AASV Foundation Announces Recipients of Hogg Scholarship
Kelly Greiner, DVM, was named the 2025 recipient of the AASV Foundation Hogg Scholarship. Established in 2008, the scholarship is named for Alex Hogg who was a leader in swine medicine and pursued a master’s degree in veterinary pathology after 20 years in a mixed-animal practice. The scholarship is awarded annually to an AASV member who has been accepted into a qualified graduate program to further their education after years as a swine practitioner.
Greiner received his DVM in 2001 from Iowa State University and is now pursuing master’s degree in animal welfare and behavior at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a technical service veterinarian with Merck Animal Health. Greiner plans to use this degree to advocate for the best welfare of the pig. In his position on Merck Animal Health’s welfare team, he intends to use the knowledge gained through the program to also support veterinary and consumer affairs teams.
Twelve AASV Members Receive Debt Relief Grants
Twelve $,7500 AASVF-Zoetis Foundation Student Debt Relief Grants, funded by the Zoetis Foundation, were awarded to swine veterinarians who are two to 10 years post-graduation.
• Kayla Blake, Auburn University (2018)
• Daniel Boykin, North Carolina State University (2016)
• Daniel Carreno, North Carolina State University (2017)
• Kayla Castevens, North Carolina State University (2020)
• Gabi Doughan, Iowa State University (2021)
• Corrine Frugé, University of Illinois (2017)
• Heather Kittrell, Louisiana State University (2015)
• Brigitte Mason, University of Illinois (2016)
• Megan Nickel, Iowa State University (2019)
• Chris Olsen, Iowa State University (2016)
Dr. Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt Relief Scholarships
The Dr. Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt Relief Scholarships, funded through the Conrad Schmidt and Family Endowment within the AASV Foundation, are awarded annually to swine veterinarians who are two to five years post-graduation and engaged in private veterinary practice. The intent of both awards is to offset a portion of student loan debt and relieve some of the burden associated with the significant financial cost of completing a veterinary medical education.
• Jordan Buchan, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph (2022)
• Anthony Holowka, Lincoln Memorial University (2022)
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