SDSU Celebrates Professional Program Veterinary Students with Blue Coat Ceremony

Blue coats are SDSU’s way of honoring students’ entry into the profession of veterinary medicine. Each coat is sponsored by a South Dakota or surrounding area veterinarian.

“This is a work coat that symbolizes the hard work you put in both in vet school but also in your career as a vet,” said Russ Daly, SDSU Professor, SDSU Extension Veterinarian and state public health veterinarian. “It’s a coat to keep you warm and to remind you that there are people here to support you. The coats are from vets who have chosen to buy them just for you – it symbolizes a community of vets who are behind you, and we hope you will wear these coats with pride for years to come.

Erin Burton, senior associate dean for academic and student affairs at the University of Minnesota (UMN) College of Veterinary Medicine also delivered positive messages to students on behalf of UMN. The UMN College of Veterinary Medicine and SDSU are partnering to offer the collaborative program, admitting 20 students per class to complete their first two years of veterinary school at SDSU in Brookings before completing their final two years on campus at UMN in St. Paul.

“The Carhartt® blue coat is a symbol of the hard work and dedication that veterinary students show while attending veterinary school and after graduating as a veterinarian,” said Jessie Juarez, SDSU Professional Program Director in veterinary Medicine. “I am proud that each coat was sponsored by veterinarians from South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota who cheered on our PPVM students during the ceremony.”

Veterinary students celebrated and presented with a blue coat during the ceremony include:

• Joshua Bartels of Glenwood, Minnesota – sponsored by Dr. Dean Christianson of Ashley Veterinary Clinic in Ashley, North Dakota
• Wendy Blickensderfer of Rapid City, SD – sponsored by Dr. George Twitero of Black Hills Animal Hospital in Rapid City, SD
• Emily Cap from Tabor, SD – sponsored by Sioux Nation Veterinary Clinic in Freeman, SD
• Benjamin Dentlinger of New Virginia, Iowa – sponsored by Dr. Grant Weaver of Aurora Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Northfield, Minnesota
• Katie Evans of Parker, Colorado – sponsored by Dr. Cindy Franklin of the Animal Health Clinic in Yankton, South Dakota
• Traelene Fallis of Fort Thompson, SD – sponsored by Dr. Corale Dorn of Dells Veterinary Services in Dell Rapids, SD, and Western Veterinary Services in Kadoka and Philip, SD
• Alexis Freese of Fulda, Minnesota – sponsored by Pipestone Veterinary Services in Pipestone, Minnesota
• Briana Hotzler of Hosmer, SD – sponsored by Northern Plains Animal Health in Aberdeen, SD
• Jennifer Johnson of Gravity, Iowa – sponsored by Dr. Nate Illiff of Sisseton Veterinary Service in Sisseton, South Dakota
• Lauren Kassilke of Auburn, Alabama – sponsored by Dr. Jane Christopher-Hennings of Arlington, South Dakota
• Holly Keppers of Holdingford, Minnesota – sponsored by Dr. Jennifer Fischer of Valley City Veterinary Hospital in Valley City, North Dakota
• McKenna Kimmerle of Becker, Minnesota – sponsored by Dr. Adam Benson of Big Sioux Veterinary Care, PLLC in Brookings, South Dakota
• Lucas Lazorik of Mellen, Wisconsin – sponsored by Dr. Adam Benson of Big Sioux Veterinary Care, PLLC in Brookings, South Dakota
• Shailey Marczak of Cottonwood, Minnesota – sponsored by Clear Lake Veterinary Clinic, PC in Clear Lake, SD
• Grace Phinney of Mitchell, SD – sponsored by Dr. Jennifer Stevens of Horizon Pet Care in Brandon, SD
• Amy Scharf of Arvado, Colorado – sponsored by Dr. Jessi Warrington of Webster Veterinary Clinic in Webster, South Dakota
• Boone Schmitz of Mineral Point, Wisconsin – sponsored by Dr. David Zeman of Brookings, South Dakota
• Morgan Simon of Carver, Minnesota – sponsored by Dr. Kay Miller of Fulton, South Dakota
• Madison Thieman of Winner, South Dakota – sponsored by Animal Clinic, Ltd. in Winner, South Dakota
• Jadyn Vetos of Nampa, Idaho – sponsored by Dr. William Howard of the Howard Veterinary Clinic in Watertown, South Dakota

“The Blue Coat ceremony was a huge success this year – we are building a proud tradition at SDSU that celebrates our students entering the professional veterinary medicine program,” Juarez said.

The Professional Veterinary Medicine program provides students with hands-on experience working with food and companion animals during their time at SDSU, while preparing to take on critical roles in all areas of animal health, environmental health and public health.

The new program is made possible through a formal cooperative agreement, in which SDSU students admitted to the professional program complete the first two years of their veterinary training at South Dakota State University and then transfer to the College of Veterinary Medicine. from the University of Minnesota. (UMN CVM) for the last two years of study. The collaborative program will meet all accreditation requirements of the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education for the UMN CVM accredited program. Once students have completed the required pre-vet program, they can apply for the professional program.

While at SDSU, students will have a rigorous yet enriched learning experience as class sizes are meant to be small (approximately 20 students). The small class size was designed to provide students with the opportunity to have supportive learning communities and more hands-on experience working with food and pets, while allowing them to work closely together in a world-class diagnostic facility with dedicated faculty. and scientific researchers.

–SDSU extension