Scholarships & Awards

AAEVT member, Milissa Finnegan RVT, passed away suddenly in December 2008. She was enrolled in the AAEVT Online Certificate Academy program and she had just returned from her first AAEP Convention. Due to her untimely passing, Milissa was unable to complete the few remaining courses to fulfill her professional goal of earning this Certificate. It meant a great deal to her. To honor her commitment, the AAEVT presented Dr. Strickland, her employer and AAEP member, her Certificate of Completion which he presented to her family at her memorial.

To encourage other technicians and assistants to reach their goals, and at the suggestion of her family and employer, the AAEVT has established a scholarship for those who are enrolled in the AAEVT Online Certificate Academy program.

Eligibility requirements
Applicants must be current AAEVT members in good standing and at the time of application and be currently enrolled in the AAEVT Online Certificate Academy program.

Deadlines:
Spring Scholarship applications must be received no later than April 1
Fall Scholarship applications must be received no later than September 1

Application requirements  [All of the following documentation completed and zipped in a file for submission]

1. Completed application form.
2. Resume including previous and current employment, with dates, giving brief details of job titles and duties, including names of organization, association or practice address.
3. Short essay describing why this scholarship is important to you in furthering your educational career, what your career goals are, and why horses have made an impact on your life.
4. Overview of your current stage in the AAEVT Online Certificate program, including enrolment date, list of completed courses, which Regional meeting you plan to attend, and (if applicable) what benefits the online program has provided.
5. Letter of recommendation (minimum of one) from an active member of the AAEVT or AAEP, stating why they feel you will benefit from this scholarship.

In August 2006, at the conclusion of the AAEVT Regional Symposium in Lexington, KY, the AAEVT and the Veterinary Technician community lost a treasured friend and colleague, Anne Bailey, LVT. Anne was one of the passengers aboard the Comair Flight that went down after take-off at Lexington Bluegrass airport. She was returning home to Canada where she worked for Dr. Ed Wiebe and Associates in Vancouver.  Anne is survived by her husband, Mike Simrad, who has also initiated a charitable organization in Anne’s honor.

The AAEVT established this scholarship in 2006 to honor her and her dedication to continue her education and enhance her skills. The intent of the scholarship is to assist equine veterinary technicians, assistants and students in attending AAEVT continuing education courses, AAEVT meetings, equine related online courses, and or with tuition costs involved in obtaining their veterinary technology education. The scholarships must be applied to costs associated with registration fees, texts, other fees or costs of an educational nature and any associated traveling or subsistence expenses.

Eligibility requirements
Applicants must be current AAEVT members in good standing and at the time of application and award. Applicants must be employed by a licensed veterinarian engaged in the practice of Equine Veterinary Medicine or enrolled in an Accredited AVMA/ CVMA Veterinary Technology Program in the United States or Canada with an Equine focus.

Deadline
All applications must be received no later than September 1

Application requirements  [All of the following documentation completed and zipped in a file for submission]

1. Completed application form.
2. Resume including previous and current employment, with dates, giving brief details of job titles and duties, including names of organization, association or practice address.
3. List of extracurricular activities, other than employment, relative to veterinary technology and nursing.
4. Brief statement of purpose for applying and indicate the precise use of the funds and how it may benefit you. Detailed description of educational program enrolled in noting courses of study or seminars. Include all dates of anticipated completion and CE or College credit hours that shall be included.
5. CE course description: If you are planning to attend a continuing education course, describe the course (part-time, full time, modular, residential etc), the venue/location, date, name of the course organizer and itemization of all course fees, travel and subsistence costs that you will incur.
6. Letter of recommendation (minimum of one) from an active member of the AAEP, another veterinarian in good standing or a professor who is a veterinarian, stating why they feel you will benefit from this scholarship.

Dr. Midge Leitch had been a supporter and an educational partner of the AAEVT since the organization’s partnership with the AAEP in 2004.  She was one of the co-authors of the AAEVT’s Equine Manual for Veterinary Technicians and was always interested in furthering a technicians/assistants education.  She was a proud member of the AAEP and believed that attendance of the AAEP’s Annual Meeting was crucial in honing skills and collaborating with fellow colleagues.

The AAEVT has established this annual scholarship to honor her commitment to our organization and to offer first time non-credentialed participants a chance to further their education and enhance their skills.  The scholarship will cover registration to the AAEVT Annual Conference for the year applied in (does not include wet labs).

Eligibility requirements
Applicants must be first time non-credentialed attendees of the AAEP Conference, and must be an AAEVT member in good standing.

Deadline
All applications must be received no later than September 1

Application requirements  [All of the following documentation completed and zipped in a file for submission]

1. Completed application form.
2. Resume including previous and current employment, with dates, giving brief details of job titles and duties, including names of organization, association or practice address.
3. Short essay describing why this scholarship is important to you and what your future aspirations are as an equine veterinary assistant.
4. Letter of recommendation (minimum of one) from an active member of the AAEVT or AAEP, stating why they feel you will benefit from this scholarship.

The AAEVT Anesthesia Society was created with the intent to further the education of licensed technicians and assistants in the specific area of equine anesthesia. We feel that our patients deserve the absolute best care no matter their conscience state. Equine anesthesia isn’t often focused on enough during training and schooling. It is important that the community of equine anesthetists have access to quality education and training in this particular field and have that experience to be confident in their positions.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be current AAEVT members in good standing and a current AAEVT Anesthesia Society member, at the time of application.

Deadlines:
Spring Scholarship applications must be received no later than April 1
Fall Scholarship applications must be received no later than September 1

Application requirements  [All of the following documentation completed and zipped in a file for submission]

1. Completed application form.
2. Resume including previous and current employment, with dates, giving brief details of job titles and duties, including names of organization, association or practice address.
3. Short essay describing why this scholarship is important to you in furthering your educational career, what your current level of anesthetic knowledge and experience is as well as explaining what your goals are as they pertain to anesthesia and this scholarship.
4. Letter of recommendation (minimum of one) from an active member of the AAEVT or AAEP, stating why they feel you will benefit from this scholarship.

Deb Reeder was one of the original founders of the AAEVT in 2004. Since inception, she has grown this organization and moved mountains in this industry with her dedication and resilience. This award was created in Deb’s name to continue her legacy of commitment as she has transitioned to an Emeritus Consultant role within the AAEVT.

This award is to recognize a person or organization within the equine veterinary industry who has proven to improve the veterinary profession and health care team as a whole. The winner of this award should be a person or organization that has demonstrated immense creativity, dedication, diligence, and resilience. Members of both the AAEP and AAEVT may nominate a person or organization for this prestigious award.

Deadlines:
All nominations must be received no later than September 30

Application requirements  [All of the following documentation completed and zipped in a file for submission]

1. Completed application form.
2. Short essay describing the nominee and why this person or organization is deserving of this prestigious award. This essay should include:
   • How the nominee has made a lasting and meaningful CONTRIBUTION to the Equine Veterinary Industry and Healthcare Team.
   • What was the IMPACT of the nominee’s efforts? Explain the major benefit to the community. What was exceptional about the contribution made by the nominee?
   • Describe nominee’s DILIGENCE toward any challenges that were met and obstacles that were overcome.
   • How is the nominee an INSPIRATION to others and deserving of this award?

The 2024 Deb Reeder Innovation Selection Committee:

Travis Otremba, AAEVT President 2024
Jlynn Meyer, Award Founder AAEVT
Wiss Costanza, Executive Director AAEVT
David Foley, CAE, Executive Director, AAEP
Keith Klein, Director of Industry Relations, AAEP

For additional Scholarship information or questions, please contact:

Andrea Whittle, 2023 AAEVT Immediate Past President
awhittlelvt@gmail.com