Veterinary students match wits in Nestlé Purina College Challenge

ST. LOUIS, Mo. ­ Veterinary students went head-to-head on topicsranging from anatomy to zoonosis during the Nestlé Purina CollegeChallenge at the 2003 North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC). Afterfive rounds of competition, Tya Henderson, a fourth-year student at AtlanticVeterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada, was declared the winneramong the veterinary school competitors. She defeated runner-up Marc Greenberg,a fourth-year student at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine,Ithaca, N.Y., in the championship round.

"I never thought I could be successful in this type of competition,"says Henderson, who plans to join her father's small-animal practice inEscondido, Calif., after graduation. "It turned out to be a great experienceand a wonderful way to meet students from other veterinary schools. I'mespecially proud to bring recognition to the small school I attend."

Greenberg, a New York native and future small-animal surgeon, also welcomedthe opportunity to compete in the College Challenge. "The competitionwas a fun and exciting way to put my education to the test," he noted."I just tried to stay focused throughout the competition."

Veterinary students serving as their school's 2003 NAVC delegates wereinvited to vie in the competition, based loosely on current popular gameshows. Students amassing the greatest number of points during their roundsof play advanced to the next level of competition until the field was narrowedto Henderson and Greenberg. NAVC attendees were invited to be part of thestudio audience and the sessions were broadcast on the NAVC closed-circuitnetwork sent to eight hotels associated with the conference.

Winners, schools receive prize money

Henderson was awarded a $5,000 educational grant from Nestlé Purinaand her school received a $5,000 donation to its Student Chapter of theAmerican Veterinary Medicine Association (SCAVMA). Greenberg and his school'sSCAVMA received $2,500 awards. Each contestant completing the first roundof competition received a $100 gift certificate toward any purchase in theNAVC Exhibit Hall.

Nestlé Purina, a long-time supporter of educational programs forveterinary college students, created the new competition for NAVC to expandlearning opportunities for students at the conference. "We recognizethat students need fun ways to be challenged and enhance their education,"says Dan Christian, DVM, Nestlé Purina director of veterinary communications."The College Challenge let students showcase what they've learned ina fun competition, which featured a broad spectrum of questions developedby industry experts. It turned out to be an exciting event that we hopeto repeat."