AVMA Leadership Recipients
2024: Catherine Alexander, University of Minnesota, attended VLC
2023: Courtney Wallner, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2025
2022: Taylor J. Williams, The Ohio State University, Class of 2023
2018: Lauren L. Prince, Universiy of Wisconsin
Colette E. Friedenson, University of Pennsylvania
2017: Kimberly McMunn, Purdue University
2015: Dahlia Grimes, Matthews University
2014: Jordan Dieckman, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine
Gabby Eddings, Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine
2013: Chelsea E. Anderson, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
2012: Kelly Patyk, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Joelle Glenn, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
2011: Shequenta Wray, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Jordan Dieckman, 2014 scholar
Gabby Eddings, 2014 scholar
Lafontaine Memorial Scholarship Recipients
2024 Recipient: Payton Williams Ragsdale, Texas A&M, Class of 2026
Payton is from Frisco, Texas and is a graduate of West Texas A&M University. She is a member of the 2026 Veterinary class and was a member of A&M’s VERO program (Veterinary Education, Research, and Outreach). Payton was selected in the spring of 2023 as an Adel A. Malak Scholar and Intern with the Food Safety Inspection Service through the USDA. In this role Payton is receiving training to join FSIS as an in-plant Public Health Veterinarian after graduation. Payton is looking forward to her final two years of veterinary school and utilizing her clinical rotations to continue exploring the opportunities available for veterinarians with a focus in public health and food safety.
2023 Recipient: Dan Cook, 2nd yearr student at University of Missouri
“I am currently a 2nd year veterinary student at the University of Missouri-Columbia; GO TIGERS! My love of animals and passion to provide quality food products to people is what has driven me to become a public health veterinarian. I have a Master’s of Animal Science, emphasis in Meat Science, from the University of Arkansas and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Truman State University. After graduating from the University of Arkansas, I worked for Simmons Pet Food in Kansas and then Cargill, Inc. I have been married to my wife for 10 years and we have three children; two boys and one girl. After school, I plan on working with USDA-FSIS as a public health veterinarian, ensuring quality
in our food supply for the public."
