The AASV Foundation encourages veterinary students with an interest in swine medicine to gain extra-curricular, “hands-on” experience working with swine practitioners in a private practice or production company. The foundation’s swine externship grant program, now in its fourteenth year, provides financial support to veterinary students who participate in a qualifying externship. The grants are available year-round and range from $200 to $500 per student, depending upon the actual expenses incurred during the externship.

Veterinary students who plan to complete an externship of at least 2 weeks’ duration in a swine practice or a mixed practice with a considerable swine component may apply for the grant. Both the student and at least one member of the hosting practice must be members of the AASV. Members who are willing to host students are encouraged to provide their contact information to AASV for inclusion in the list of externship opportunities on the AASV Web site at https://www.aasv.org/members/career/internships.php.

In addition to student information, the grant application requests a letter from the hosting practice containing details of the planned externship. After the externship has been completed and the practice has confirmed the student’s participation, the student submits a brief report of his or her experiences, along with expense receipts, to the AASV Foundation before the funds are disbursed.

The grant application is available at https://www.aasv.org/students/externgrant.htm, and should be submitted prior to the start of the externship. There is a limit of one grant per student. For more information, contact the AASV Foundation: Tel: 515-465-5255; Fax: 515-465-3832; E-mail: aasv@aasv.org.

The AASV Foundation is raffling a “hog”!

Thanks to the generosity of MVP Laboratories, the AASV Foundation is raffling off a brand new 2015 Harley Davidson Street Glide (FLHX) with upgraded faring, reflex-linked brakes with ABS, premium touch-screen radio, security, and cruise control. This beauty is custom-painted Superior Blue and valued at $27,500! Wouldn’t the AASV logo look great on those saddlebags??

The motorcycle was purchased and donated to the foundation by MVP Laboratories, so the full value of raffle tickets purchased will benefit the AASV Foundation.

Raffle tickets are only $100 each and can be purchased by contacting AASV or one of the Auction Committee members. Tickets will also be on sale at the AASV registration desk in Orlando.

The lucky winner will be drawn during the Foundation Auction on Monday night, March 2. You don’t need to be present to win, but if you feel really lucky, just make a one-way plane ticket to Orlando and plan to drive this beauty home!

NPIF interns matched with swine practitioner-mentors

The AASV Foundation and AASV Student Recruitment Committee are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 National Pork Industry Foundation (NPIF) veterinary internship stipends. Six first- and second-year veterinary students were selected from a pool of 78 applicants to receive the $3300 stipends. Each NPIF intern has been linked with a volunteer practitioner-mentor with whom they will spend a 1-month internship during the summer of 2015. The foundation is indebted to the practitioners for their willingness to host and mentor the interns, not only this year but in past years as well.

The interns and their mentors are as follows:

• Hunter Baldry, University of Minnesota; Mentor, Dr Paul Armbrecht, Lake City Veterinary Service, PC
• Elizabeth Boyd, Colorado State University; Mentor, Dr Russ Nugent, Tyson Fresh Meats, Springdale, Arkansas
• Bryan Ideus, University of Illinois; Mentor, Dr Aaron Lower, Carthage Veterinary Service Ltd, Carthage, Illinois
• Ben Kasl, Cornell University; Mentor, Dr Jon Van Blarcom, Lancaster Swine Health Services, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
• Amanda Neujahr, North Carolina State University; Mentor, Dr Scanlon Daniels, Circle H Headquarters LLC, Dalhart, Texas
• Caitlin Quesenberry, Washington State University; Mentor, Dr Larry Coleman, Broken Bow, Nebraska

The NPIF veterinary internship stipend program is now in its seventh year. The stipend of $3300 per student defrays the cost of travel, lodging, and compensation during the 1-month internship. Additionally, the interns are encouraged to utilize their practitioner-mentor as a resource throughout the year and to attend the AASV Annual Meeting and Leman Swine Conference in an effort to increase their knowledge and exposure to swine medicine. Each intern submits a written report and evaluation upon completion of the program.

The AASV Student Recruitment Committee developed the NPIF veterinary internship stipend program in an effort to attract veterinary students to swine medicine and to provide interested students with exposure to the life of a swine veterinarian. The $20,000 funding for the program is provided by the National Pork Industry Foundation, a charitable corporation that promotes activities in the swine industry related to research and education. The funds are administered by the AASV Foundation.