August 18, 2023
Veterinary Medicine student receives Merck Animal Health Scholarship
Harrell Phillips III, third-year veterinary student at Kansas State University, was one of four students chosen nationwide to receive the Merck Animal Health Scholarship.
Phillips received $5,000 from the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, or AVC, Foundation. The scholarships were awarded at the academy's summer conference in Denver, Colorado.
"Rural livestock producers are one of the most underserved communities when it comes to veterinary care," Phillips said. "This scholarship will help make it possible for me to pursue rural food animal practice to support the farmers and ranchers feeding our world every day."
In 2023, Merck Animal Health awarded $20,000 in scholarships in partnership with AVC Foundation. These scholarships allow veterinarians involved in the beef cattle industry to pursue continuing education opportunities.
"We are grateful to Merck Animal Health for their partnership as we support these top veterinary students who will soon be leading the veterinary profession and providing critical support to the cattle industry in North America," said Bob Larson, professor and Coleman chair in food animal production medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine at K-State. Larson serves as the executive director of the Academy of Veterinary Consultants. "These scholarship winners have the skills and abilities to ensure a bright future for the beef industry."
The AVC Foundation engages in a broad range of charitable, scientific and educational activities to support and promote veterinary medicine. It supports improvements and innovations in beef cattle health, well-being, productivity and sustainability through scholarship programs that benefit the future of beef cattle production medicine veterinarians, producers and the public.