There’s a lot of ways clients say “thank you” for the care veterinarians provide their pets. But Marilyn McCahon did it in a big way.

As thanks to Stephen H. White, DVM, DABVP, and owner of AAHA-accredited practice Fairway Animal Hospital in Kansas City for caring for her dog, Maddy, McCahon created a scholarship in White’s name.

The Dr. Stephen White Scholarship in Veterinary Medicine scholarship was presented to Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine (K-State CVM) in March, years after White provided care. 

“I was very surprised to hear about this scholarship, because it had been about 14 years since I had last cared for Marilyn’s dog, Maddy,” White told Helping Hands, one of K-State alumnae magazines. (White had seen Maddy through regular check-ups and a diagnosis of epilepsy that eventually ended her life.)

“I guess we often fail to realize the impact we can have on people as we go about performing our jobs as veterinarians.”

At a time when the mean cost of veterinary education has increased by nearly 250% in the past 15 years, according to a recent economic report issued by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), White hopes the scholarship will help ease some of the financial burden veterinary students accrue.

White also hopes the scholarship will recognize the student who may not be at the top of the class, but has a passion for learning, shows care for patients, and exhibits professionalism for clients and colleagues.

Scholarship criteria have not yet been posted online. However, K-State shared the following criteria with NEWStat.

The scholarship recipient must be:    

• A third- or fourth-year student (fourth year preferably),
• Enrolled in K-State CVM,
• From Kansas,
• Has a current GPA of 3.2 or higher,
• Intends to go into general small animal practice,
• Has participated in educational/additional learning opportunities outside the requirements for the DVM, and
• Exemplifies integrity, compassion, and professionalism toward clients, patients, and colleagues.

Students can apply online. The application deadline is Sept. 2.