Student AVMA (SAVMA)

SAVMA awards & scholarships

On this page you will find listings of all Awards and Scholarships provided by the SAVMA House of Delegates Committees. For more information on any of these grants or applications, please contact the specific committee contact information provided below.

*SAVMA grant award recipients accumulating over $600 in stipends (for non-reimbursable events) in a calendar year, will be subject to taxes on funds received. Please consider discussing these tax implications with a tax professional before applying.

Jump to a specific committee award list here:

Animal Welfare and Environmental Stewardship Committee Awards

Education and Professional Development Committee Awards

Governmental Affairs Committee Awards

Integrative Communications and Diversity Committee Awards

International Veterinary Experience Committee Awards

Public Health and Community Outreach Committee Awards

Global and Public Health Officer Awards

SAVMA Wellbeing Committee Awards

 

AVMF Veterinary Student Scholarship Opportunities

Animal Welfare and Environmental Stewardship Committee Awards

For questions or to submit an application, contact: savma [dot] awescatgmail [dot] com (savma[dot]awesc[at]gmail[dot]com)

Application Amount Deadline

AWESC Human-Animal Bond Grant

$500 1/31/2025

The purpose of this AWESC Human-Animal Grant is to reimburse SAVMA members to initiate or sustain human-animal bond projects, defray expenses for special lectures on topics involving human-animal bond, and enhance the education of veterinary students in tangible ways related to the human-animal bond.

AWESC Animal Welfare Grant

$500 1/31/2025

The purpose of this grant is to reimburse SAVMA members to initiate or sustain animal welfare projects, defray expenses for special lectures on topics involving animal welfare, and enhance the education of veterinary students in tangible ways related to animal welfare.

AWESC Travel Grant 7 grants of $500 each 7/1/2025

The purpose of this grant is to reimburse SAVMA members who have attended a convention, conference, or educational trip related to animal welfare and/or the human-animal bond within the fiscal year (August 2024-August 2025).

AWESC Environmental Awareness Grant $500 7/1/2025
This grant allows for current SAVMA members to reach out and initiate environmental projects, engage in research, or attend conservation related events/meetings.

 

Education and Professional Development Committee Awards

For questions or to submit an application, contact: savma [dot] epdcatgmail [dot] com (savma[dot]epdc[at]gmail[dot]com)

Application Amount Deadline
SAVMA Externship Grant 16 awards at $300 offered per cycle 5/10/2025
Externships are an extremely important aspect of a veterinary student's learning experience. In addition to providing opportunities for students to see medicine at work outside of their veterinary schools, externships also help students build their skill sets from clinician's in different areas across the country.
Economics Initiative Essay Contest 4 awards at up to $250 2/1/2025

Economic stress is a major challenge for students entering the veterinary profession. In an essay, 500 words or less, please suggest an actionable solution for SAVMA which will help alleviate student financial stress. Examples might include new student programs, political advocacy or increased educational outreach.

Extracurricular Funding Grant Application

3 awards at up to $500

Spring:
4/1/2025
This grant is for any student organization or club who designs a lecture and/or wet lab for a topic to which students would not be otherwise be exposed. The EPDC recognizes the important skills students learn from these organizations and this grant is to encourage more creative and innovative ways to deliver these supplemental educational activities to their members (virtually or in-person).
Teaching Excellence Award $300 to student author of winning entry and SAVMA chapter will receive a stipend to host an awards ceremony to honor the teacher that is chosen. 12/1/2024

This award recognizes outstanding teachers in our profession who deserve to be recognized for their impact on veterinary students. The SAVMA Chapter that is associated with the submission will receive a stipend to host an awards ceremony to honor the teacher that is chosen. To encourage well written nominations, an award will be given to the student author of the winning entry.

NAVLE Study Package Grant

(include your SAVMA ID in submission)
20 awards at $250 each 12/31/2024
This award is for students in their final years of vet school preparing for the NAVLE! Even if you have already purchased a NAVLE study package, you can be reimbursed up to $250. Applicants must be an active, dues paying SAVMA Member before applying for this grant. **If you are selected as a recipient - proof of purchase of a NAVLE study package will be required to receive your grant.**
Retrospective Conference Travel Grant Application 10 awards of $300 each 10/31/2024
The Retrospective Travel Grant offset costs to students who have attended a veterinary conference between August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024. Awards are available to any SAVMA member. Application is due October 31, 2024 at 7pm EST.
Language Grant $200 5/31/2025
The purpose of this grant is to support veterinary students in mitigating the financial costs of studying any foreign language or American Sign Language. The grant may be used for any language courses, exam applications, textbooks, overseas experience or other learning materials dedicated to learning a language at any level.
2024-2025 NAVLE Survey Forty $10 Gift Cards 5/31/2025
The purpose of the survey is to offer advice to students taking the NAVLE in the future. All personal responses to this survey will remain confidential and will not be shared, published, or used for any purpose outside of the intended use. The survey opens January 1, 2025 and is due May 31st, 2025 at 11:59pm CST.
 

Governmental Affairs Committee Awards

For questions or to submit an application, contact: gac [dot] savma15atgmail [dot] com (gac[dot]savma15[at]gmail[dot]com)

Application Amount Deadline
Government, Policy, and Public Health Travel Grant 2 grants up to $250 5/15/2025

This grant assists with the cost of attending government focused conferences, externships, or other unique experiences related to public policy.

 

Integrative Communications and Diversity Committee Awards

For questions or to submit an application, contact: SAVMA [dot] ICDCatgmail [dot] com (SAVMA[dot]ICDC[at]gmail[dot]com)

Application Amount Deadline
Empowering Diversity within Veterinary Medicine 5 awards ranging from $250-$500 each Cycle 1:
1/1/2026-3/15/2026
The goal of this grant is to encourage veterinary students to engage in dialogue about diversity and inclusion among all members of their school and beyond through various activities and programs. It will be awarded to deserving individuals or groups who host a diversity-based activity that facilitates conversation and awareness about diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine. The scope of the grant is not limited to cultural diversity and may include factors such as ethnicity, economic status, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. The application cycle will open on January 15th, 2025 and close on March 15th, 2025.

Travel Grant Supporting Diversity and Communications
 

5 awards of $200 each per cycle

Cycle 1:
9/16/2025-3/31/2026
Cycle 2:
4/1/2026-9/15/2026

This grant is for deserving individuals who have attended or wish to attend a meeting or event that promotes diversity and/or communication within the veterinary profession. Also for minority veterinary students who have attended or wish to attend an externship to assist with travel expenses.
Communications Development Grant 5 grants between $200-$500

5/15/2025

The goal of this grant is to encourage the development and discussion of communication in veterinary medicine. Both individual students and chapters may apply for events that have already occurred or are scheduled to take place.
Equity in Veterinary Medicine Grant
Cycle 1 application (September 1st - January 31st)
Cycle 2 application (February 1st - July 31st)
5 grants up to $100

Cycle 1:
7/31/2025
Cycle 2: 
1/31/2026

The primary goal of this grant is to support the development of more equity in veterinary medicine by providing Black students and underrepresented groups with the funds to join organizations with opportunities for professional development, networking, mentorship, conferences, and community. This grant will be on rolling submission and will close once funds are used up per cycle.
I'm First Essay Contest 5 awards of $250 7/15/2025
The goal of the I'm First Essay Contest is to provide support to first-generation veterinary students based on their experiences as a first-generation student. This grant will open once annually on March 1 and close on July 15. Previous winners are not eligible to apply.

 

International Veterinary Experience Committee Awards

For questions or to submit an application, contact: ivecscholarshipsatgmail [dot] com (ivecscholarships[at]gmail[dot]com)

Application Amount Deadline
IVEC International Experience Scholarship 8 awards of $1,000 each 3/31/2025
at 11:59 p.m. CST

This scholarship is awarded to deserving SAVMA members who demonstrate a strong desire to participate in a veterinary-related international experience for experiences carried out within the months of eligibility (January 1st, 2025 - June 30th, 2025).

 

Public Health and Community Outreach Committee Awards

For questions or to submit an application, contact: savma [dot] phcocatgmail [dot] com (savma[dot]phcoc[at]gmail[dot]com)

Application Amount Deadline
Faculty Community Outreach Grant $300 reward for student nominator and $500 to the SAVMA chapter or school of the nominee for a celebration in nominee's honor. 12/20/2024

The Faculty Community Outreach Award nomination is intended for students to publicly acknowledge how faculty members, clinicians, etc. in the veterinary field have gone above and beyond their own professional responsibilities and duties to interact with and make a difference in the local/global community.

Underserved Areas Grant 2 awards of up to $500 each. 10/1/2025

The application period for this grant has been extended. 2 stipends of up to $500 each available to retroactively reimburse SAVMA members for costs accrued during an externship, volunteering, or other activity that benefits an area that is underserved in terms of veterinary services completed between April 1st, 2023 and March 31st, 2024.

Community Outreach Grant Six awards up to $500 8/1/2025

The Community Outreach Grant aims to help SAVMA members to integrate community service with the veterinary profession. This grant will help fund community service projects that a SAVMA member coordinates within their local community.

Research in Public Health Grant 3 awards at $500 3/30/2025
This grant can be used to defray expenses (accumulated during the research project duration) that are not covered by the student’s existing research funds.
SAVMA Continuing Education Grant 10 awards at $225 each 6/30/2025
This grant aims to encourage SAVMA members to participate in coursework or certification programs outside of the veterinary curriculum.

Global and Public Health Officer Awards

For questions or to submit an application, contact: savmagphoatgmail [dot] com (savmagpho[at]gmail[dot]com)

One Health Grand Challenge Two $1700 grants 7/1/2025

The One Health Grand Challenge aims to push students to incorporate One Health domains in an educational program to reach a large audience. We also encourage working with other fields outside of veterinary medicine, as collaboration across fields is at the core of One Health.

One Health Travel Grant $250 grants 7/1/2025

This grant aims to encourage participation in opportunities to further their education and networking in the One Health and global health fields by covering some costs accrued for attending conferences, externships, or other experiences.

SAVMA Wellbeing Committee Awards

For questions or to submit an application, contact: savmawellbeingatgmail [dot] com (savmawellbeing[at]gmail[dot]com)

Application Amount Deadline
Champion of Student Wellbeing Award $500 for local SAVMA Chapter for an event and $300 for student submission effort Fall cycle:
10/15/2024
Spring cycle:
3/15/2023-4/30/2023
This award recognizes and acknowledges a faculty or staff member who go above and beyond to promote student wellbeing at their institutions especially during these trying times where mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health are of vital importance. This may include, but is not limited to, promoting mental, physical, spiritual and emotional intelligence amongst their students, creation or support of wellbeing initiatives and programming at their institutions, or serving as a role model that demonstrates the importance of self-care.
Health and Disability Scholarship 9 awards between $450 - $550 each 12/15/2024-2/15/2025

This annual award will be granted to a deserving SAVMA member who carries the extra burden of a mental illness, learning disability, physical disability, or chronic disease during their time as a veterinary student. Applicants are required to submit a letter explaining what this scholarship would mean to them and the management of their health hardship. Disclosure of condition is not required.

Second Chance Grant $500 each 2/7/2025

This grant is both active and retroactive. For students actively applying, you must be on academic probation, remediating, or appealing for the Fall 2024 semester. For students applying retroactively, you must have been on academic probation, remediating, or in the process of appealing within the last school year beginning Fall 2023.

Wellbeing Support Fund Two $500 grants in two different cycles Spring Cycle:
5/15/2025-6/30/2025

Winter Cycle:
11/15/2025-12/31/2025
This award offers funding to veterinary students and veterinary school organizations that wish to promote physical, mental, and emotional health at their college of veterinary medicine. The student applicant should demonstrate the need for assistance with a project, lecture, or event(s) that will foster physical or mental wellbeing in their respective college, on an as needed basis.
LGBTQ+ Wellbeing Grant Two $500 grants in two different cycles Spring Cycle:
3/1/2025-5/18/2025

Fall Cycle:
9/1/2025-10/17/2025
The SAVMA Wellbeing Committee would like to acknowledge and assist individuals or clubs involved with support of the LGBTQ+ community. This grant provides funds to individuals or groups who are hosting events, disseminating information, or otherwise supporting the LGBTQ+ community. This is to foster positivity and communication among LGBTQ+ community members and allies.
Student Spotlight Outreach $10 gift card for 10 applicants 2/28/2026
Let us know your favorite SAVMA event or memory for a chance to win a $10 amazon gift card! The survey opens February 1, 2026 and is due February 28th, 2026 at 11:59pm CST.