The St. George’s University (SGU) School of Veterinary Medicine and its honor society, Phi Zeta, celebrated the accomplishments of its students, staff, and faculty in April at two distinguished ceremonies—its Spring 2024 Awards Ceremony and Phi Zeta induction, respectively.
Dr. Tara Paterson, associate dean of Year Four Clinical Training at SGU and chair of the SVM Awards Committee, said, “The SVM community takes pride in recognizing the amazing accomplishments of its students, staff, and faculty. Congratulations to all those honored.”
Thirty-one sets of awards were presented during the SVM Term Awards, which took place on April 19, including the newest awards added this term the Dr. Ravindra Nath Sharma Pathology Excellence Award and the Veterinary Professionalism Award.
Also of note was the induction of 35 students into the Alpha Delta Chapter of the Society of Phi Zeta April 26. Phi Zeta is the national veterinary honor society created to recognize students for their superior academic achievement, and it is headed by Dr. Melinda J. Wilkerson as interim president and Dr. Sonia Cheetham as interim president and treasurer.
“We at the School of Veterinary Medicine are proud to recognize the success and achievements of our students, faculty, and staff,” said Dr. Neil Olson, dean of the SVM. “It is a true testament to the hard work on the part of the SVM community this term.”
This semester’s awards are as follows:
Outstanding Colleague Awards
Term 1: Gabriel Cordero Bruno
Term 2: Ashley Humphreys
Term 3: Faith Van Rengen
Term 4: Daphne Harris
Term 5: Brittany Watson
Term 6: Elena Tanakova
Dean Olson’s Award for Academic Excellence
Elena Tanakova
Adrienne Lotton Memorial Award
Lindsay Ferguson
Zoetis Revolution Awards of Excellence
Small Animal Internal Medicine: Nathalie Rodriguez
Small Animal Surgery: Kristi Cerami
Equine Medicine and Surgery: Alyssa Carpenter
Food Animal Medicine and Surgery: Sarah Hendrickson
Scholarship of Service: Lindsay Ferguson
Student Research Award: Stephanie Smick
Dr. Jim Nave Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice
Elena Tanakova
Dechra Awards of Excellence
Small Animal Internal Medicine: Chenoa Hope-Tomlinson
Equine Sports Medicine: Sean MacPherson
SVM Alumni Scholarship Award
Bianca Mower
Giant Paws Giant Hearts Foundation “Hercules” Award
Marissa Peck
Dr. Ravindra Nath Sharma Pathology Excellence Award
Valeria Cheron
AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners) Outstanding Senior Award
Lauren Abrams
The Veterinary Professionalism Award
Matthew Peterson
PAWS Recognition Sixth Term Facilitators
Matthew Peterson, Elena Tanakova, Diego Soler, Erinn Schmidt, Isabel Jurenka, Samantha Birkl, Allison Lott, Nicole Osorio, Sydney Garcia, Bianca Mower, Bradford Holman, Alexandra (Lexi) Lawson, Lindsay Ferguson, Juan Pablo Padriza, and Marissa Peck
SAVMA: Student Chapter of the AVMA
SAVMA Executive Board Extraordinary Service Award: Katherine Smith
Feral Cat Project
Cat-tastic faculty: Dr. Tara Walcot
A-meow-zing member: Mallory Ryan
Veterinary Public Health Committee
Outstanding Member: Lindsay Ferguson
Outstanding Faculty Members: Dr. Wayne Sylvester and Jude Modeste
SGUSVM Large Animal Society
Ace of Initiative Award: Morgan Eckstein
Producer of Excellence: Dr. Nyoni Winchester
WAG: Wellness Aide and Guidance
The Prized Pothound Award: Courtney Duguay
The Diligent Doctor Award: Dr. Ashiq Bhat
AAARF: Angels in Armor Animal Rescue Fund
AAARF’s Armor: Katrina Gong
AAARF’s Angel: Dr. Liza Vasechkina
VAC: Veterinary Anesthesia Club
Anesthesia Excellency Award: Breanna Maramag
Distinguished Veterinary Anesthesia Educator Award: Dr. Nuria Quesada
P&E: Pride and Equality
Excellence in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)—faculty: Dr. Farah Mohammed
Excellence in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)—student: Alexandra Prince
SCACVIM: Student Chapter of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Most Dedicated Member: Elim Yee
SVECCS: Student Chapter of the Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society
Outstanding 6th Termer: Melitsa Loannou
Outstanding Faculty Award: Dr. Elizaveta Vaschekina
SCVMA (Students of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association)
Notorious NAVLE Nerd: Dylan Glasser
Friend of Canadians Faculty Award: Dr. Anne Corrigan
SNP: Spay Neuter Pothound
Staff Pothound Hero Award: Tracy Andrews
Student Pothound Hero Award: Mia Kaminsky
SCACVP: Student Chapter of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists
The MVP (Most Valuable Pathologist): Leslie Escobar
EWS: Exotics & Wildlife Society
Wildlife Warrior Award: Cheyenne Roth
WAVMA: World Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Association
MVP (Most Valuable Porpoise): Juana Argiro
Green Consortium
Ex’SEED’ the Expectation: Marissa Peck
SVM Surgery Club
Faculty Appreciation Award: Tara Paterson
Spotlight Award: Michael Starrett
SGA: Student Government Association
SGU SVM Outstanding Faculty Term 1-3: Dr. Hector Zerpa
SGU SVM Outstanding Faculty Term 4-6: Dr. Firdous Khan
SGA SGU Awards of Excellence Term 1-3: Matthew Charles
George B. Daniel Award: Sydney Garcia
DES Recognition Awards:
Liani Tremor (T6), Kristen Anderson (T5), Anne Manganiello (T4), Michael Starrett (T5), Nicole Gasparian (T5), and Samantha Hild (T4)
SGUSVM Outstanding Staff Awards
Administrative Staff: Ulanda Richards
Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award: Dr. Heidi Janicke
Alpha Delta Chapter of the Society of Phi Zeta
Spring 2024 Inductees
Term 5: Jayme Clarke, Courtney Conway, Elizabeth Fournier, Germaine Germundson, 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
Term 6: Seung Hyun Bong, Trevor Cooke, Courtney Duguay, Molly Jones, Mackenzie Keaney, Tiffany Longo, Cassandra MacLaren, Megan Messick, Elizabeth Owens, Veronica Passannante, Matthew Peterson, Andrew Richterkessing, Hannah Reil, Nicholas Santangelo, Taylor Sforza, Megan Strunk, Emma Wood, and Miller Young
Spring 2024 Phi Zeta Scholarship: Samantha Palmer
–Juliette Kimmins
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