Veterinary Emergency Group announces 2020 scholarship winners

The Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) recently announced the winners of its 2020 scholarship. The annual scholarship started last year, typically goes to 1 fourth-year student dedicated to pursuing emergency medicine. This year, VEG decided to award 2 students because of the financial burden the pandemic placed on so many students,” according to an organizational release.

This year’s recipients, Ashley Newman and Yvette Huizar are both fourth-year students at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

The scholarship covers each recipient’s full fourth-year tuition fees. Both winners will also be offered full-time roles as emergency veterinarians post-graduation.

Newman says her inspiration to pursue veterinary emergency medicine comes from her parents’ strength and resilience. Her mother lost a 6-year battle with stage 4 cancer, and her father was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. “Both of my parents are my biggest inspirations and my biggest role models. They are the reason I’m here today,” says Newman, in VEG’s 2020 scholarship award video.

Huizar represents VEG’s value of openness and inclusivity. Earlier this year, she co-founded the Latinx Veterinary Medical Association, an organization formed with a mission to empower Latinx veterinary professionals and support Latinx students.

“Something that makes me really excited about joining VEG is it’s a progressive and new company that’s trying to create more opportunities for underrepresented minorities,” says Huizar. “I hope I will be able to collaborate with VEG in the future.”