Andrew Christensen didn’t know Jared Danielson on a personal level.
But like all College of Veterinary Medicine students, Christensen knew what type of person Dr. Danielson was.
“I had nothing but positive and uplifting experiences with him in my first two years as a student,” said Christensen, a third-year veterinary medicine student at Iowa State.
Christensen is the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Jared Danielson Excellence in Mentoring Scholarship. The award was established this past summer by more than 50 individuals whose contributions endowed the scholarship.
Danielson passed away last May after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. He held several positions in the College of Veterinary Medicine for more than two decades, including most recently as the senior associate dean for academic and student programs.
It was in this role that Danielson encountered students such as Andrew Christensen.
“Being the first to receive his memorial scholarship was truly an honor because it shows while he might have passed, his legacy of leadership through service in this institution has not,” Christensen said. “I am very grateful obviously for the financial assistance but also just to be associated with his legacy and being selected as a representative of what he stood for in leadership and mentoring at the college.”
While at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Danielson devoted his career to veterinary medical education.
“Jared helped shape the future of veterinary education, not only at Iowa State, but throughout the country,” said Dr. Dan Grooms, the Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine. “He worked tirelessly on all aspects to improve veterinary medicine education.”
Christensen seems to have a similar drive, although with a different subject. After graduation, he plans to take a one-year rotating internship in pursuit of a veterinary dental residency.
“My hope is to provide the highest level of dental care while helping vets in my community gain experience and much needed confidence in this field,” he said.
March 2026