2010-2011 Externship Recipients
Past Externship Recipients
2013-2014 | 2012-2013 | 2011-2012 | 2010-2011 | 2009-2010
Kansas State University
MAAF 2011 Externship Fund:
Liz Ebert is a recipient of the 2010-2011 MAAF Externship Fund. Elizabeth is a fourth year veterinary student at Kansas State. She is originally from Basehor, Kansas. Elizabeth has had an ongoing interest in camelid medicine since she started her veterinary training and has already had the opportunity to work on several cases involving camelids during her fourth year Ag Practices rotation. While at K-State, she has attended the annual conference that is held at the University and has participated in a behavior wet lab taught by Dr. Anderson concerning handling methods in camelids. It was Dr. Anderson who encouraged her to contact Ohio State University to participate in their strong camelid medicine program, where she completed a two-week small ruminant externship in October, 2010. While there, she was able to expand her knowledge and gain valuable experiences while working with Dr. Rings in the OSU Food Animal Medicine/Surgery department.
MAAF 2010 Externship Fund:
Izabela Ragan is one of the recipients of the 2010-11 MAAF Externship Scholarship. Izabela was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Both of her parents are Polish immigrants and she is a first generation college student. Izabela graduated from Colorado College in Colorado Springs in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. The preceding year she worked full-time at a small animal practice to gain experience and exposure to veterinary medicine. Meanwhile, she spent some time with a camelid vet in Monument, Colorado. Izabela is currently a first year vet student at Kansas State University. At K-State, she is exploring various fields of interest, with her primary interest being in mixed animal practice that would include camelid medicine. She has spent time at alpaca shows and on farms and has come to adore alpacas. In addition, she has met many farm owners and their generosity and kindness has encouraged her to explore camelid medicine. “The alpaca industry is unique, the owners are extremely friendly, and the animals are like no other. That’s what I love about camelids and I hope to continue learning about camelids within and beyond school!” stated Izabela.
Izabela would like to use her externship funds to assist in completing an externship in Colorado where she would be able to work with two alpaca breeders and an alpaca veterinary practice.
2010-2011 MOPACA Camelid Scholarship
Celia Gaches is one of the 2010-11 recipients of the MOPACA Camelid Scholarship.Celia is a second year veterinary student at Kansas State Univeristy. She grew up in Tempe, Arizona, where she always had cats, and later a dog and a horse. Celia’s eventual goal is to be a predominately equine practitioner; however she has found camelid biology and medicine to be very interesting. Her long-term plans entail a move to Australia after graduation, and many of the equine positions she has found are at mixed practices, and they request experience with camelids as part of the job advertisement. Due to this circumstance, as well as her existing interest in the subject, she has made it one of her secondary goals to learn more about camelid medicine throughout the course of her education. So far, she has been able to attend one of the South American Camelid conferences at K-State and aid in the over-night care of camelids at the teaching hospital. She is hopeful that more opportunities will arise for her to expand her camelid medicine education as her learning career progresses.
2010-2011 MOPACA Camelid Scholarship
Brittany Streiffis a recipient of the 2010-2011 MOPACA Camelid Scholarship. Brittany is currently a third year veterinary student at Kansas State University. Streiff’s interest in camelids was piqued in 2008 when her family purchased their first four alpacas. She was intrigued by their sweet and inquisitive nature. Since then, she has attended several camelid conferences and volunteered at the Mid-America Alpaca Show in Topeka, KS.
She was born in Liberal, KS. She attended Pittsburg State University where she majored in Biology. She was a member of the Honors College and ran cross country and track. Streiff is excited about finishing her veterinary education and anticipates working in a small animal or mixed practice in the Wichita area upon graduation.
The photograph is of Streiff and her favorite alpaca, Athena.
University Of Missouri
MOPACA Scholarship:
The University of Missouri winner of the 2010 MOPACA scholarship is Megan Scott. Megan originally hails from St. Peters, MO. She was first introduced to camelids while studying abroad in New Zealand. She has had the opportunity to shadow veterinarians that do camelid work and has attended multiple seminars and wet labs on camelids.
Megan is a member of the Veterinary class of 2013. She is very active in student clubs and is currently the Vice President of the small ruminant and camelid club. In this position and through her work with the Zew club, Megan has not only increased her own knowledge, but has exposed large numbers of veterinary students locally and nationwide to camelids.
MAAF Externship Fund:
The externship fund was utilized by three students to attend Dr. Toni Cotton’s Neonatal seminar held at the MOPACA show.
Jessica Byrd has purchased a mixed animal practice in Eminence, Missouri and will start at the practice in June of 2009. The nearest vet is fifty miles away. “I am very excited to be working with llama, alpacas, equine, bovine and small animals.
Ashley Vincent grew up in Delaware and did her undergraduate work in Pennsylvania. Upon graduation she would like to focus on internal medicine. Ashley is a member on a number of clubs on campus, Phi Beta Veterinary Society and Veterinary Research Scholar’s Program.
Laura McKee was raised on a small farm just east of Kansas City in Orrick, Missouri. After graduation she will be working at a mixed animal practice, Renfro veterinary Services in Richmond, Missouri. "I am interested in bringing more camelid medicine into the practice".
3rd Annual Combined Camelid Health and Management Conference:
Four veterinary students from the University attended the conference . Fees for the conference were covered by the Externship Fund. A total of six students have been able to access fund s for off campus camelid education.
Oklahoma State University
MOPACA Scholarship and MAAF Externship Fund:
Melissa was born and raised in Garland, TX. After graduating high school she went off to Texas A&M University, earning a BS in Biomedical Science and a BS in Animal Science. She also travelled to Germany for a history of veterinary medicine study abroad program before joining the class of 2013 at Oklahoma State University. She still bleeds maroon though! After school she plans on completing a food animal internship before moving back to rural south Texas to work in a mixed-animal practice. She first fell in love with alpacas during her first year at OSU during an alpaca castration wet lab. She served as Wet Lab Coordinator for AASRP during her second year and will serve as Vice President her third year. She also holds officer positions in VBMA and SVECCS, is a member in many other clubs such as AABP and AAEP, and is an Operation Main Street speaker for the National Pork Board.
In what spare time she can find, she enjoys spending time with her three dogs; Lucy an 11 year old black lab, Lexy a rescued dachshund, and Boston a 5 year old saint bernard who thinks he’s a lap dog. She also comes from a huge family and enjoys being home for game nights and pool parties. She likes reading, watching movies, home improvement projects, wine-tasting, travelling, outdoor activities, and attending veterinary conferences.
Thank you again for your generous donation to my education!
Sincerely,
Melissa Cleavinger
Oklahoma State University