Source: Lindsey Horner, lscherbe@vet.k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-2535, bbohn@k-state.edu

Monday, June 21, 2010

K-STATE STUDENT RECEIVES SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF EQUINE PRACTITIONERS

MANHATTAN -- A longtime desire to work with horses has helped a Kansas State University veterinary medicine student earn a national scholarship.

Lindsey Horner, fourth-year veterinary medicine student, St. George, has received a $1,000 scholarship through The Winner's Circle Scholarship Program, which is sponsored by the American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation, Platinum Performance and The Race for Education.

Horner is among the 32 veterinary students receiving the scholarship this year. The Winner's Circle Scholarship is for fourth-year veterinary students who are following a career path in equine medicine. The scholarships are intended to help offset the cost of veterinary school. Students are nominated from each of the American Association of Equine Practitioners' 36 student chapters in North America.

"The rising cost of veterinary school continues to present challenges to talented students who endeavor to enter the equine veterinary profession," said Wayne McIlwraith, chairman of the American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation Advisory Committee. "The Winner's Circle Scholarship program provides financial relief for proven student leaders who have pledged their careers to advancing the health of horses."

Horner, who completed three years of undergraduate work at North Dakota State University before entering K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine, is an active member of the K-State chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

"I went to veterinary school because of my passion for horses and the equine industry," she said. "It only seems natural to specialize in equine veterinary medicine."

Horner plans on doing an equine internship after earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from K-State in May 2011. She then will consider entering private practice.

Horner is the daughter of Arlyn and Lisa Scherbenske, Steele, N.D. Arlyn Scherbenske is a mixed animal veterinarian. Horner also is a graduate of Steele-Dawson High School.

The Winner's Circle Scholarship Program encourages students' long-term loyalty to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, its foundation, The Race for Education and the Thoroughbred industry. The program distributed more than $130,000 in scholarship funds to students this year. Since its establishment in 2008, the program has provided more than $400,000 in financial support of equine veterinary students.