In November, the St. George’s University (SGU) School of Veterinary Medicine recognized the outstanding accomplishments of its students, staff, and faculty during two notable events: the Fall 2024 SVM Awards Ceremony and the Phi Zeta induction ceremony.
“To our incredible students, faculty, and staff, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the winners recognized at the Fall Term Awards ceremony and to the newly inducted members of Phi Zeta,” said Dr. Neil Olson, dean of the SVM. “Your dedication, innovation, and unwavering pursuit of excellence reflect the very best of our School of Veterinary Medicine.”
Forty-nine fifth and sixth term SVM students and four faculty members were recognized as inductees into the Alpha Delta Chapter of the Society of Phi Zeta on November 1.
Fall Phi Zeta induction ceremony photo album
As the honor society for veterinary medicine, the Society seeks to recognize and promote scholarship and research in matters pertaining to the welfare and diseases of animals, according to Phi Zeta. The SGU chapter is headed by SVM faculty, Dr. Kerri Nigito as president, Dr. Sophia Moittié as vice president, and Dr. Sonia Cheetham-Brow as secretary and treasurer.
At the School of Veterinary Medicine Fall Awards Ceremony, held on November 15, the SVM community celebrated the achievements of students and faculty as 33 sets of awards were presented to recipients.
Fall SVM Awards Ceremony photo album
“Congratulations to our outstanding students, dedicated faculty, and exceptional staff for their remarkable accomplishments,” said Dr. Tara Paterson, associate dean of Year Four Clinical Training at SGU and chair of the SVM Awards Committee.
She went on to share that the drive to succeed should not stem from material things, such as awards, but rather fueled by an inner desire to work hard and be the best “you” that you can be.
This semester’s awards are as follows:
Outstanding Colleague Awards
Term 1: Paxton Horvath
Term 2: Yvelisse Welden and Amante Mozaffarian
Term 3: Taylor Edwinson
Term 4: Jaelyn Ingram
Term 5: Jason Gutmann
Term 6: Caroline Vangi and Brittany Watson
Adrienne Lotton Memorial Award
Asiamay Diaz
Dean Neil C. Olson Award for Academic Excellence & Professionalism
Michael Starrett
Zoetis Revolution Awards of Excellence
Small Animal Internal Medicine: Shana Hodosh
Small Animal Surgery: Michael Starrett
Equine Medicine & Surgery: Alyssa Willibey
Food Animal Medicine & Surgery: Christian Cavazos
Scholarship of Service: Samantha Palmer
Surgery Team award: Benjamin Liu, Isabelle Mays, Mikka Muramatsu, and Jamie Park
Dr. Jim Nave Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice
Michael Starrett
Giant Paws Giant Hearts Foundation “Hercules” Award
Brittany Watson
The Veterinary Professionalism Award
Caroline Vangi and Dylan Glasser
Dr. Ravindra Nath Sharma Pathology Excellence Award
Leslie Escobar
DES Recognition Awards
Andrea Anguisaca, Jennifer Burke, Faith Van Rengen, Esmeralda Sifuentes, and Penny Wang
PAWS Recognition of 6th Term Facilitators
Diamond Blanks, Dylan Glasser, Lindsey Honnert, Dariann Ludwig, Jessica Martin, Cassandra Mayberry, Emily Meade, Sharon Paredes, Ally Prince, and Nahir Roman-Rodriguez
SAVMA: Student American Veterinary Medical Association
SAVMA Executive Board Extraordinary Service Award: Julia Vaccaro
Feral Cat Project
Cat-tastic Member Award: Rebekah Wilson
Ameowzing Faculty Award: Dr. Elizaveta Vasechkina
Veterinary Public Health Committee
One Health One Medicine Community Leader Award: Kyra Boss
One Health One Medicine Faculty Excellence Award: Dr. Lucian Thomas
LAS: Large Animal Society
Ace of Initiative Award: Morgan Forney
Watchful Sheperd Award: Mr. Irfan Ahman Khan
AAARF: Angels in Armor Animal Rescue Fund
AAARF Angel Award: Kaylee Schultz
AAARF Armor Award: Dr. Wayne Sylvester
P&E: Pride and Equality
Excellence in DEI Awards: Naomi Crowell and Dr. India Paharsingh
RDIC: Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging Club
RDIC’s Raddest Vet Award: Ryan Phoenix
SCACVIM: Student Chapter of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Most Dedicated Member Award: Katherine Dunn
SVECCS: Student Chapter of the Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society
Most Outstanding 6th Termer Award: Courtney Conway
Outstanding Clinician Award: Elizaveta Vasechkina
SCASV: Student Chapter of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians
Shelter Scholar Award: Sidney Hajdik
SNP: Spay Neuter Pothound
Pothound Hero Award: Jacqueline Paradine
SCVMA: Students of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
Superstar Canadian Award: Victoria Miller
Outstanding Advocate Award: Dr. Inga Karasek
SCACVP: Student Chapter of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists
MVP Award (Most Valuable Pathologist): Hayley Wuestenberg
EWS: Exotics & Wildlife Society
Excelling Elephant Award: Abigail Dobbs
WAG: Wellness Aide Guidance
The Praiseworthy Pothound Award: Brooke Bridges
VAC: Veterinary Anesthesia Club
Anesthesia Excellency Award: Elim Yee
Distinguished Veterinary Anesthesia Educator Award: Dr. Mercedes Miccio
WAVMA: World Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Association
MVP: Most Valuable Porpoise Award: Elizabeth Williams
Green Consortium
Ex “Seed” the Expectation Award: Ashley Pino
SCAAVP: Student Chapter of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists
Worm of Wisdom Award: Linh Le
SGA: Student Government Association
Outstanding Faculty Term 1—3 Award: Dr. Diana Stone
Outstanding Faculty Term 4—6 Award: Dr. Talia Guttin
SGU SGA Award of Excellence Term 1—3: Dr. Hector Zerpa
SGU SGA Award of Excellence Term 4—6: Dr. Mercedes Velaquez de Zerpa
George B. Daniel Award: Ally Prince
SGU SVM Technical Staff Award
Lucinda Ogilvie
Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence
Dr. Sophie Moittié
Hill’s Golden Apple Teaching Award
Dr. Firdous Khan
Alpha Delta Chapter of the Society of Phi Zeta
Fall 2024 Inductees
Term 5: Elise Brehm, Caitlyn Collazo, Erin Connolly, Hannah Coplin, Rocio De Anda, Teagan Gartley, Elise Grandy, Daphne Harris, Sarah Hattis, Yue He, Sarah Kovacs, Ryan McGauley, Shelby Pardoe, Elana Raaphorst, Alejandra Pardo Ribero, Nicole Sadlier, Jessica Vitale, and Dana Wiens
Term 6: Allie Abell, Erika Billman, Ashton Corcoran, Hayley Ferranti, Dylan Glasser, Lindsey Honnert, Laura Jankowski, Grace Johnson, Dariann Ludwig, Emily Meade, Victoria Muttin, Jacqueline Paradine, Claire Woronick, and Haley Wozniak
Term 6 students inducted last term: Jayme Clarke, Courtney Conway, Germaine Germundson, Elizabeth Fournier, Haley Harraka, Shana Hodosh, Jessica Martin, Julia Moretz, Alexandra Morris, Nicole O’Connor, Samantha Palmer, Brie Pavol, Bianca Perez, Wesleigh Porter, Michael Starrett, Elena Wafford, and Rebekah Wilson
Faculty inductees: Ms. Naudia Dundas, Mrs. Camille Coomansingh-Springer, Dr. Adria Rodriguez, and Dr. Nyoni Winchester
— Juliette Kimmins
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