The alumni council at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine recently honored three individuals through the 2007 Distinguished Awards program.

Dr. Link Welborn (FL '82) received the Alumni Achievement award. He is the co-owner of several small animal practices in Tampa and a past president of the American Animal Hospital Association. He has served on the college's alumni council and advisory committee, and he helped establish the Jim Himes Alumni Scholarship in honor of an emeritus dean of students at the college.

Dr. Maarten Drost (ISU '62) received the Distinguished Service award. He is a professor emeritus at the college and an expert in livestock reproduction who pioneered embryo-transfer techniques and perfected embryo transfer in water buffaloes. He retired officially in 2003 but has remained active, completing a Web atlas of animal reproduction with thousands of images available for free to students and scientists.

Donald Bennink, owner of North Florida Holsteins dairy farm, received the Special Service Award. The dairy farm is the longest-standing client of the University of Florida's Veterinary Medical Center. Dr. Art Donovan, a professor of food animal medicine, said nearly every student who has graduated from the veterinary college has passed through the gates of the farm.

The Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and its alumni association honored Dr. Dale F. Schwindaman (KSU '53) with a 2007 Alumni Recognition Award. Dr. Schwindaman spent 40 years with the Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, retiring as deputy administrator for regulatory enforcement and animal care. He is a past president of the National Association of Federal Veterinarians.

The Florida VMA selected Philip Hinkle as executive director, effective June 1. He succeeds Donald Schaefer. Hinkle had been deputy executive director for accounting and membership. He has worked for the Florida VMA for 21 years. Hinkle also has served as mayor and commissioner of Haines City, Fla.

The Vermont VMA installed the 2007-2008 president, Dr. Elizabeth Alton (TUF '84), during a June 21-22 meeting in Burlington. The group chose Dr. Frederick Baum (COR '91) to be president-elect and Dr. Karen Bradley (GA '96) to be AVMA alternate delegate.

Exotic DVM Veterinary Magazine has selected Dr. Gregory A. Lewbart (UP '88) as the 2007 Exotic DVM of the Year. Dr. Lewbart teaches aquatic animal medicine at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He has written about invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and reptiles for articles and books. He also has written two mystery novels with themes of wildlife conservation.

John Payne became president, chief operating officer, and acting chief executive officer of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, on July 1. He succeeds Dr. Scott Campbell, who is retiring as CEO after 22 years but will continue as chairman of the board. Payne joined Banfield in 2005 and has served as senior vice president for practice development. Previously, he was president of Bayer Animal Health Division for North America.