Senior Awards Presented to DVM Students

May 18, 2026

The College of Veterinary Medicine has presented awards and scholarships to the DVM graduating class of 2026.

The awards were presented Thursday, May 14, at a ceremony co-sponsored by the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association.

Recipients included:

  • American Association of Feline Practitioners Outstanding Senior Award – Josie Petersen
  • American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology Award – John Bigham
  • American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Certificate of Clinical Excellence – Jake Jenson (large animal) & Ariel Ackerman (small animal)
  • American College of Veterinary Pathologists Outstanding Achievement, Proficiency and Interest in Veterinary Pathology Award – Summer Smith
  • American College of Veterinary Radiology Senior Award – Jacob Protzman
  • AAVD Dermatology Senior Veterinary Student Award – Carter Kent
  • Award for Clinical Proficiency in Surgery – Sam Millard (large animal) & Zoey Zentkovich (small animal)
  • G.G. Graham Prize – Gus Peterson (large animal) & Carolyn Granda (small animal)
  • Margaret A. Haines Scholarship in Equine Medicine and Surgery – Quincie Donth & Leland Ducksworth
  • Interstate Veterinary Medical Association Scholarship – Madison Kelchen & Lance Steins
  • IVMA Rural Practice Incentive Scholarships – Hannah Pollard & Katelynn Belding
  • IVMA Bovine Preconditioning Program Scholarship – Sydney Hull, Mary Shytles, Devin Ludwing, Alexander Bebb, Ethan Hornbuckle & Jenna Trenhaile
  • IVMA Sport Field Day Community Engagement Scholarship – Kassidy Van Maanen, Alek Goll, Jade Paulsen, Sarah Rath, Ben McClain & Nourah Abusada
  • Bob Rosenthall Senior Student Award for Proficiency in Clinical Oncology – Jahalia Baker
  • Society for Theriogenology Proficiency in Theriogenology Award – Brian Bochucinski
  • Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association “Gentle Doctor” Award – Kathryn Dalzell
  • Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association Scholarship Award – Emily Nye & Kassidy Van Maanen
  • American Animal Hospital Association Award for Proficiency in Primary Care – Arabelle Jackson
  • ISU Excellence in Swine Research Award – Morgan Almeida
  • ISU Excellence in Swine Practice Award – Kristen Cleaver
  • Dr. Dominic Gentile Virtuous Veterinarian Award –Kathryn Dalzell
  • VECCS Award for Proficiency in Emergency and Critical Care – Rachel Ferguson
  • North American Veterinary Anesthesia Society / American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia Award – Molly Eyerly & Cassandra Black