In this episode, Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by AABP members Dr. Michelle Barrett and Dr. Becky Funk. Both guests have served on the Amstutz Scholarship Committee and Funk is the past-chair of the AABP Foundation. 

Our guests discuss the scholarship application process, how scholarships are reviewed, and offer tips for filling out the application. Students who qualify for a scholarship should consider applying using the links on the Students menu of the AABP website. We discuss the requirement for a CV/resume for some scholarships, and what to consider including in that document. Questions are also asked for all of the scholarships and answering these questions is part of the review process. 

Letters of recommendation are also considered by reviewers. Tips for asking for a reference as well as how to provide a good letter of reference for a student are great pointers for those applying. Finally, we remind students to make sure to not wait until the deadline date and time to finalize your application. This includes making sure your dues are renewed well in advance of the deadline and checking the scholarship/grant portal to make sure your letters of reference are submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications are not reviewed. 

A special thank you to all of the donors to scholarship funds and AABP member volunteers from committees who review the scholarship applications. If you are interested in joining a committee, please contact [email protected]. Donate to the AABP Foundation scholarship funds at this link.  

Links:

Join AABP and pay dues at this link. It can take 3 business days to renew your dues, so if you are applying for scholarships this year, please renews your dues in advance of the deadline! Students, make sure to have your application complete, including reference letters submitted online, by the deadline of May 31 at 5 pm Eastern. Check the status of your application at this link.  

Scholarship opportunities: 

Amstutz Scholarship – AABP Foundation premier scholarship for AABP student members graduating in 2025 or 2026. 

Zoetis Foundation Scholarship – Funded by the Zoetis Foundation this $7,500 scholarship is for AABP student members graduating in 2025. 

Merck Bovine Student Recognition Award – Funded by Merck Animal health, this $10,000 scholarship is for AABP student members graduating in 2025 and 2026. 

Francis Welcome Future Dairy Practitioner Scholarship – Funded by the Welcome Family and AABP member donations, this $2,000 scholarship is for a 3rd year veterinary student with an interest in dairy medicine after graduation. 

Edwin Robertson Memorial Scholarship – Funded by the Robertson Family and AABP member donations, this $1,000 scholarship is for students at Auburn and Lincoln Memorial University to fund an advanced reproduction experience. 

James H. Bias Scholarship – This $5,000 scholarship is funded by AABP members and is awarded to 3rd year veterinary student with a graduation year of 2025 from an underrepresented ethnic and or racial background. The scholarship also provides travel and lodging to the 2024 AABP conference and a free registration to an AABP Recent Graduate conference within the first three years of graduation.