Brookings, S.D. – Fourteen South Dakota State University pre-veterinary students who were accepted to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programs starting fall 2022 were honored on April 29 at the 11th Annual South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association (SDVMA) and SDSU Stethoscope Ceremony.
“We acknowledge the long path and scholarly activity that students have accomplished to get to this point – by graduating and earning a seat in veterinary school,” said John Killefer, dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at SDSU. “The pathway to get into veterinary school is no small task; they’ve had hard classes, hours of job shadowing and internships and extra work. It’s a true testimony to their dedication as students and to their future careers.”
SDSU students accepted into veterinary schools include:
• Katelyn Bettin, from Lake View, Iowa, will be attending Iowa State University
• Wendy Blickensderfer, from Rapid City, South Dakota, will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Allison Bronk, from Lewiston, Minnesota, will be attending the University of Minnesota
• Emily Cap, from Tabor, South Dakota, will be attending South Dakota University/University of Minnesota
• Traelene Fallis, from Fort Thompson, South Dakota, will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Cassidy Gardiner, from Sioux City, Iowa, will be attending Iowa State University
• Natalie Gydesen, from North Loup, Nebraska, will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln/Iowa State University
• Jennifer Johnson, from Gravity, Iowa, will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Hannah Klinefelter, from St. Cloud, Minnesota, will be attending the University of Minnesota
• Shailey Marczak, from Cottonwood, Minnesota, will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Grace Phinney, from Mitchell, South Dakota, will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Laura Szabo from Budapest, Hungary, will be attending the University of Arizona
• Madison Thieman, from Winner, South Dakota, will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
• Jadyn Vetos, from Nampa, Idaho, will be attending South Dakota State University/University of Minnesota
“To my fellow SDSU graduates, to my future colleagues and to the class of 2026, on behalf of the SDVMA, I want to give you all a heartfelt congratulations and well done,” said Dr. Carolyn Geis, president of the SDVMA, at the ceremony.
During the ceremony, students received stethoscopes engraved with their name and the SDSU emblem. Additionally, each student honored an individual who made an impact on their path to becoming a veterinarian. Each honored individual then said a few encouraging words to their student and presented them with their stethoscope.
“This is a tool you will use in your practice, and we want you to remember SDSU as the place where you got the tools that will serve you well in the rest of your career,” said Russ Daly, professor, SDSU Extension veterinarian and state public health veterinarian. “Additionally, a stethoscope connects you to your patients and clients; and we want you to remember your connection to SDSU because the people who got you to this point are always going to be here cheering for you later down the road. Don’t ever forget those connections.”
