Veterinary students from across the country have won scholarships from the American Veterinary Medical Foundation through its 2009 Veterinary Student Scholarship program.

The announcement that 21 students won $1,000 each came today at the AVMF's concurrent convention in Seattle.

The recipients are as follows:

• Jessica Balter (COR '11), who seeks a career in shelter medicine.
• Heather Rogers (FL '11), who seeks a career in disaster relief.
• Ruth Usher (GA '11), who seeks a career in shelter medicine.
• Cheryl Kolus (COL '12), who seeks a career in veterinary behavior.
• Jaimi Johnson (MIN '12), who seeks a career in public health/shelter medicine.
• Carrie Coffey (FL '11), who seeks a career in disaster relief/public health.
• Victoria Meehan (MIS '11), who seeks a career in large animal medicine/disaster relief.
• Kristen Hummel (MIS '11), who seeks a career in public health/disease control.
• Jennafer Glaesemann (ISU '11), who seeks a career in livestock/food animal medicine.
• Kristen Twedt (MSU '11), who seeks a career in food animal medicine/disaster relief.
• Rachael Reith (MIS '11), who seeks a career in disaster relief/AVMA Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams.
• Jennifer McRobbie (TUF '10), who seeks a career in public health/disease control.
• Keri Grace (AUB '12), who seeks a career in shelter medicine.
• Sarah A. Hamer (MSU '11), who seeks a career in public health/research.
• Kelvin Urday (MO '11), who seeks a career in public health/disaster relief.
• Anya Valdes-Dapena (UP '11), who seeks a career in shelter medicine.
• Kristen Moore (GA '10), who seeks a career in shelter medicine.
• Julie Paige Brown (TEN '11), who seeks a career in laboratory animal medicine.
• Nicole Dalesandro (PUR '11), who seeks a career in shelter medicine/equine medicine.
• Jennifer Bruno (LSU '10), who seeks a career in disaster relief/underserved communities.

The AVMF will also award Kristen Kelly (TUF '11) $1,000 from the Mildred C. Sylvester Scholarship Fund. She seeks a career in shelter medicine.

In other AVMF news, Dr. Michael Lappin is the 2009 recipient of the Winn Excellence in Feline Research Award, which is accompanied by a $2,500 cash award. It is paired with a matching scholarship by the AVMF for a veterinary student interested in feline medicine; the recipient will be named at a later date. The two awards are designed to promote and encourage feline health studies by established veterinary research scientists and those entering this field of study.

Dr. Lappin is professor of small animal internal medicine at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He will be presented with the award at tonight's AVMF recognition event.

For more information about the Foundation, visit www.avmf.org.