Lincoln Memorial University - Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine (LMU-CVM) honored pre-clinical students at Awards Day on April 25 at the CVM Building on the main campus in Harrogate, Tennessee.
“We are extremely honored to recognize these veterinary students for their accomplishments in academics, community service and leadership, and we applaud their efforts to become leaders in the field of veterinary medicine," said LMU-CVM Dean Stacy Anderson, DVM, PhD, DACVS-LA.
The following students received awards:
Anesthesia Proficiency - Anthony Aponte
Anesthesia & Analgesia - Houston Wischmeier
Equine Medicine - Casey Freeman
One Health - Kristina Venditto
Food Animal Medicine - Raegan Vickers
Shelter Medicine - Leah Ferguson
Companion Animal Medicine - Mackenzie Kennedy
Companion Animal Surgery - Lauren Heatherly
Wildlife and Zoological Medicine - Thomas Jarrell
Student Leadership - Anthony Aponte, Class of 2024; Tara Fellows Barron, Class of 2025; Mary Kabir, Class of 2026
Student Research - Stacie Williams (1st-year), Kayla Medlin (2nd-year), Emily Willems (3rd-year)
Innovative Veterinary Student Leader - Bailey McKemy, Class of 2024
Student Wellness Champion Award - Anthony Aponte – Class of 2024
The following students received scholarships:
Faith Goode - Centennial Endowed Scholarship
Tara Fellows Barron - CVM Annual Scholarship
Ryan Lurch - Dorothy Roark Russ Endowed Memorial Scholarship
Emily Kahlert - Dr. Edwin Robertson Memorial CVM Scholarship
Jessica Malskis - Dr. Edwin Robertson Memorial CVM Scholarship
Julia Taraszewski - Dr. Edwin Robertson Memorial CVM Scholarship
Amanda Blowers - Dr. Gary Vroegindewey One Health Scholarship
Casey Chaplin - Dr. John Wesley Hill Endowed Scholarship
Dianna Miller - Drs. Jason W. and Jennifer T. Johnson Rural Appalachian Region Veterinary Scholarship
Christy Kisling - Georgia S. Baker Endowed Scholarship, Hanks Endowed Scholarship
Anthony Aponte - Harvey and Lois Schell Endowed Scholarship
Lillian Buckley - Harvey and Lois Schell Endowed Scholarship
James Ford - Harvey and Lois Schell Endowed Scholarship
Madeline Friedrich - Harvey and Lois Schell Endowed Scholarship
Emily Kahlert - Harvey and Lois Schell Endowed Scholarship
Megan Lanphere - Harvey and Lois Schell Endowed Scholarship
Stephanie Osip - Harvey and Lois Schell Endowed Scholarship
Halie White - Harvey and Lois Schell Endowed Scholarship
Faith Goode - Harvey and Lois Schell Endowed Scholarship
Morgan Vukicevich - Harvey and Lois Schell Endowed Scholarship
Thomas Jarrell - J.P. and M.G. Bradshaw Scholarship
Nicole Mauro - James B. and Inez Stiner Endowed Scholarship in Memory of Mr. and Mrs. H. Clay Stiner and G.S. Stiner
Hannah Vinsant - James B. and Inez Stiner Endowed Scholarship in Memory of Mr. and Mrs. H. Clay Stiner and G.S. Stiner
Makayla Herron - Jim Whitt Annual CVM Scholarship
Scarlett Tate - Kaitlyn DeVries Endowed Memorial Scholarship for the LMU College of Veterinary Medicine created by the Bluegrass Animal Hospital and Kaitlyn's Family and Friends
Beth Baker - Leabow Family Endowed Scholarship for LMU-CVM
Taylor Brewer - Margaret T. Leary Endowed Scholarship
Jessica Malskis - Margaret T. Leary Endowed Scholarship
Julia Taraszewski - Marion Stopinski Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Morgan Vukicevich - Marion Stopinski Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Faith Goode - Moore Endowed Scholarship
Natalie Morelli - R.P. Chesney Memorial Scholarship
Emily Halsmer - Research CVM Scholarship
Beth Baker - Rowland and Brantley Endowed Scholarship for the LMU-College of Veterinary Medicine, Sam and Libby McCollough Annual Scholarship
Faith Goode - Walter S. Hogg Endowed Scholarship
Morgan McGuire- West Virginia Veterinary Medical Foundation (WVVMF) Scholarship
Latasha Corntassel - Women of Service Endowed Scholarship
Phi Zeta Inductees were: Natalie Brooks, Alan Feldpusch, Lauren Heatherly, Katelyn Helton, Thomas Jarrell, MacKanzie Kennedy, Abigail Martin, Brooke Noah, Ting Yu Tung, Raegan Vickers, and Houston Wischmeier.
The Shelter Medicine Club received the Community Service Award, and the Community Affiliate Award was presented to John and Susan Graves.
Staff members honored included: Scarlett Beeler (Administrative Staff of the Year), Elizabeth Beeler (Technical/Support Staff of the Year), and Bill Terrell (Unsung Hero), Rachel Ely (Well-Being Award).
Faculty teaching awards were presented to: Teacher of the Year - Class of 2026 - Michael Center; Teacher of the Year - Class of 2025 - Veronica King; Teacher of the Year - Class of 2024 - Victoria Morris; Non-Resident Teacher - Dr. Eric Mattson; Zoetis Distinguished Teaching Award - Dr. Cindy Dixon; Zoetis Award for Research Excellence - Dr. Lauren Wisnieski; CIVET Award of Excellence in Teaching Veterinary Medicine - Dr. Elizabeth Devine; CIVET Award for Excellence in Veterinary Educational Research - Dr. Micha Simons; Clinical Site of the Year - Small Animal - The Itch Clinic: PWC, Inc. – Tennessee; Clinical Site of the Year - Large Animal - Carolina Equine Hospital – North Carolina; Clinical Educator of the Year - Small Animal -Dr. Paul Harper - Buffalo Veterinary Group – New York; Clinical Educator of the Year - Large Animal - Dr. Anne Yearians - Crab Orchard Veterinary Services – Virginia; LMU-CVM Clinical Group of the Year - National Veterinary Association, California.
Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The LMU-Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine is located on LMU’s main campus in Harrogate, Tennessee, with additional academic facilities in nearby Lee County, Virginia. LMU-CVM is an integral part of the University’s medical programs and provides real-world, community-based education in a collaborative learning environment. For more information about LMU-CVM, call 1.800.325.0900, ext. 6600 or visit us online at vetmed.LMUnet.edu.
