By Anissa Riley
The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to announce the establishment of two distinct programs in the college supported by the Tuskegee Veterinary Medical Alumni Association (TVMAA): The TVMAA Endowed Scholarship program and The TVMAA Endowed Chair.
The TVMAA Endowed Scholarship was established with a $45,000 gift from the veterinary medical alumni association. Tuskegee’s veterinary scholarship committee identifies the awardees annually, based upon criteria developed by the college. This scholarship is established to provide financial assistance for TUCVM students with demonstrated financial need. It is intended to supplement other financial resources available to the recipients to allow them to continue their veterinary medical education at the TUCVM. Upon graduation, recipients are encouraged to join the TVMAA and support the objectives of the organization and continue giving back to help sustain the legacy of the college.
The TVMAA Endowed Professorship (Chair) was established with two TVMAA fund raising campaigns utilizing veterinary alumni giving. The amount raised during these campaigns totaled $2.5 million. The purpose of this endowed chair is to provide significant financial support for an outstanding faculty member who will enhance and advance clinical sciences. The Chair will enable the college to hire and retain talented and committed faculty who will strengthen academics, clinical practice and research programs, as well as inspire students to be future leaders in the veterinary medical profession.
“We are grateful to the TVMAA for their continued support of the college. The decision of the Executive Board at its annual meeting to establish a TVMAA Endowed Scholarship and Endowed Chair is a monumental decision that will positively affect the lives of our students and our educational programs,” said Dr. Ruby L. Perry, dean of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine.
“The spirit of this scholarship and endowed chair both align with the mission and vision of our college to sustain the legacy of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, not just for our students now but for the generations to come. The TVMAA’s commitment to ‘Mother Tuskegee’ and its alma mater will not only support students in the professional DVM program on track to becoming career-ready veterinarians, but also clinical and research faculty to teach and train our next generation of future veterinarians,” Dean Perry said.
The TVMAA encourages its members to give back to the TUCVM and partners with the college in fund-raising activities, in particular those activities that directly benefit the academic and student programs. In addition, the association provides financial support to assist veterinary student organizations.
