August 16, 2023
Veterinary Medicine student receives Mary Bechtol Memorial Scholarship
Paige Schmidt, fourth-year veterinary student from Medina, North Dakota, received the Mary Bechtol Memorial Scholarship from the Academy of Veterinarians Foundation at the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, or AVC, meeting this summer.
Schmidt is concurrently working on a master’s degree in veterinary biomedical sciences. After graduation, Schmidt plans to consult in rural private practice and research at the cow-calf and feedlot levels, as well as traditional bovine medicine.
“It is an honor to receive the $7,500 Mary Bechtol Memorial Scholarship, as Mary played such an integral role in forming the Academy of Veterinary Consultants,” Schmidt said. “The ability to minimize my student loan burden coming out of school will give me the opportunity to financially pursue some of my professional goals earlier in my career.”
Mary Bechtol was an artist and is considered to be an honorary founding member of AVC. Her husband was a founding member and the first president of the organization, with much of Bechtol’s input. To honor her, friends and family created this scholarship through the Academy of Veterinarians Foundation for one veterinary student, graduating in 2024 or 2025, who shows promise to the veterinary profession and the beef cattle industry.