The mean debt load of veterinary graduates in 2018 was more than $170,000.

That's why Zoetis wants to help ease that load for future graduates.

Zoetis Inc. and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) will partner again in 2020 to provide scholarships to second- and third-year veterinary students in the United States and the Caribbean.

Recipients of the 2020 Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship Awards will each receive $2,000 for the upcoming 2020–2021 academic year.

Over the past 11 years, the program has awarded more than $6.7 million in scholarships, which have helped offset education expenses for 3,300 veterinary students. 

“Zoetis remains committed to its longstanding mission of assisting veterinary students ease financial debt related to their education,” said Christine Jenkins, DVM, DACVIM, chief medical officer and vice president of Veterinary Medical Services and Outcomes Research at Zoetis. “These awards have helped ameliorate some of the expenses related to a veterinary education and, in many cases, enabled students to participate in other learning opportunities, such as externships.”

“The AAVMC is proud to be able to partner with Zoetis on this strategic program,” said AAVMC Chief Executive Officer Andrew T. Maccabe, DVM, MPH, JD. “Scholarship support has never played a greater role in the success and wellbeing of our DVM students, and we’re extremely grateful to Zoetis for the investment they are making in the future of the profession.”

Second- and third-year veterinary students currently enrolled and in good standing at a college of veterinary medicine in the United States or Ross, St. George’s, and St. Matthew’s Universities in the Caribbean are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility criteria include academic excellence, financial need, diversity, sustainability, leadership, and career interest. Scholarships will be awarded to students in all areas of professional interest, including food-animal medicine, small-animal clinical medicine, research, government services, public health, and organized veterinary medicine.

Interested students can apply now through December 2, 2019, via the website or the VETVANCE mobile app, which is available for download from the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store.

Winners will be announced at the 2020 Student American Veterinary Medical Association Symposium.