In March, 18 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences animal science and zoology students travelled to Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss., to the Annual Symposia of the American PreVet Medical Association (APVMA). And they returned with great news: Not only were CALS students among the outstanding symposia participants, but N.C. State University was selected to host the event next year.

“I am excited to report that we have won the bid to host the APVMA’s Annual Symposia at the College of Veterinary Medicine at NCSU in 2012,” said Dr. Shweta Trivedi, director of the Veterinary Professions Advising Center (VetPAC) in the CALS Department of Animal Science.

That’s not all the N.C. State group brought home to brag about: Brian Cerrito, a CALS junior in animal science, was elected secretary of the national APVMA executive board. Danielle Lindquist, a VetPAC intern and zoology major, minoring in animal science, won the 2011 Outstanding PreVeterinary Student of the Year Award and a $500 scholarship. And NCSU PreVet students were ranked 2nd out of 49 schools in the PreVet Olympics.

Additionally, Trivedi coordinated the first mini-session for PreVet advisers and presented the lead talk “VetPAC- a model for PreVet advising at a Land-Grant University” to more than 30 advisers.

Among N.C. State student attendees were national APVMA Pres. James Tyndall, Ethan Hefner, Laura Whisenant, Anna McKain, Danielle Lindquist, Andrea  Massa, Jessica Pritchett, Elizabeth Hyde and  Jennifer Beane, all VetPAC interns, as well as Mary Austin, Anna Charlton, Morgan Collins, Lynn Burnett, Brian Cerrito,  Chelsea Trull, Amy Lamb, Kristy Casper and  Natalia Salazar.  

“I am very proud of our students, ” said Trivedi. “They mingled and made friends with the majority of students from different schools and cordially invited them to NCSU next year.” – Terri Leith