2023 AVMA Animal Welfare Assessment Contest winners announced

(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) November 21, 2023—The Fall 2023 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Animal Welfare Assessment Contest (AWJAC) took place this past weekend at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with 232 registrants representing 24 universities from across North America and Europe completing in-person assessments of the welfare of animals in a variety of settings.

Participants included undergraduates, veterinary students, graduate students and AVMA member veterinarians, who were provided a structured opportunity to practice their assessment skills and present their findings to an expert panel of scientists and veterinarians with special expertise in animal welfare. Species covered in the 2023 contest scenarios included laboratory rats, farmed bison, cage-free laying hens and tortoises in a zoo.. The event also included interactive tours at the Minnesota Zoo, Jon-De Farm and Sunnyside Farm.

The expert panel for this year included: Drs. Sally Thompson-Iritani, Bhupinder Singh, Cindy Buckmaster, Megan LaFollette, John Church, Denise Perry, Doug Mader, Paul Gibbons, Allison Pullin, Ahmed Ali, Michaela Olson, and Arlene Garcia.

Individual winners in the Undergraduate Junior Division were:

1.  1st place: Anna Ridenour, University of Minnesota
2.  2nd place: Austin Davis, University of Illinois, Team Blue
3.  3rd place: Evie Anderson, Colorado State University, Team Green
4.  4th place: Laura Boase, University of Minnesota
5.  5th place: William Torres, Texas A&M University

Team winners in the Undergraduate Junior Division were:

1.  1st place: Colorado State University, Team Green
2.  2nd place: University of Minnesota
3.  3rd place: Texas A&M University
4.  4th place: University of Illinois, Team Blue
5.  5th place: North Carolina State University

Individual winners in the Undergraduate Senior Division were:

1.  1st place: Lauren Peterson, University of Minnesota, Team Gold
2.  2nd place: Leigh Herbst, University of Minnesota, Team Gold
3.  3rd place: Eliza Ohm, University of Minnesota, Team Gold
4.  4th place: Alli Matzek, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Team 2
5.  5th place: Iris Mackenzie, The Ohio State University

Team winners in the Undergraduate Senior Division were:

1.  1st place: University of Minnesota, Team Gold
2.  2nd place: University of Minnesota, Team Maroon
3.  3rd place: University of Wisconsin-River Falls
4.  4th place: Texas A&M University
5.  5th place: The Ohio State University

Individual winners in the Graduate Division were:

1.  1st place: Madison Pinkerton, Purdue University
2.  2nd place: Madison Bacon, University of Minnesota
3.  3rd place: Hayley Sutherland, Purdue University
4.  4th place: Elizabeth Schafer, Purdue University
5.  5th place: Madeline Winans, The Ohio State University

Team winners in the Graduate Division were:

1.  1st place: The Ohio State University
2.  2nd place: Purdue University
3.  3rd place: University of Guelph
4.  4th place: University of Minnesota
5.  5th place: Texas A&M University

Individual winners in the Veterinary Division were:

1.  1st place: Miranda Bie, Ontario Veterinary College, Team Gold
2.  2nd place: Catherine LeBlond, Atlantic Veterinary College, Team 1
3.  3rd place: Abigail Penney-Wiseman, Atlantic Veterinary College, Team 2
4.  4th place: Shyanne Hall, University of Minnesota
5.  5th place: Lucy Morrison, Ontario Veterinary College, Team Red

Team winners in the Veterinary Division were:

1.  1st place: Atlantic Veterinary College, Team 1
2.  2nd place: Ontario Veterinary College, Team Gold
3.  3rd place: Ontario Veterinary College, Team Red
4.  4th place: Michigan State University
5.  5th place: Atlantic Veterinary College, Team 2

Top Placing Individuals in the Live Assessment were:

1.  Undergraduate Junior Individual: Kaylyn Choi, University of Illinois
2.  Undergraduate Senior Individual: Nick Prosek, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
3.  Veterinary Individual: Sara Pantel, Tufts University
4.  Graduate Individual: Margaret Schatte, Colorado State University

Top Placing Teams in the Live Assessment were:

1.  Undergraduate Junior Team: Texas A&M University
2.  Undergraduate Senior Team: North Carolina State University
3.  Veterinary Team: Atlantic Veterinary College, Team 1
4.  Graduate Team: The Ohio State University

"I am inspired by the dedication and hard work demonstrated by all participants in this year's Animal Welfare Assessment Contest," said Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the AVMA. "Their commitment to animal welfare and eagerness to learn from both peers and leaders in the field is another sign of veterinary medicine's bright future. AWJAC is not only a competition, but a valuable platform for networking, mentorship and exchanging ideas. The AVMA remains steadfast in its commitment to animal welfare, and AWJAC plays a crucial role in upholding this vital aspect of our profession."

The Animal Welfare Assessment Contest was founded at Michigan State University in 2001 as the Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest (AWJAC) and was modeled after traditional livestock, horse and meat judging competitions. Funded in part through an educational grant from Merck Animal Health, today’s Animal Welfare Assessment Contest brings students together from across the United States and internationally.

To learn more about the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest, visit AWJAC.org.

For more information, contact Michael San Filippo, AVMA media relations manager, at 847-732-6194 (cell/text) or msanfilippoavma [dot] org (msanfilippo[at]avma[dot]org).