Student honored by bovine group

UF student Judd Simms, right, and Dr. Rick Sibbel, director of cattle technical services for Merck Animal Health,sponsor of the AABP student awards.

Judd Sims, a UF veterinary student, was one of eight veterinary students from across the United States to receive $1,500 and an all-expenses-paid trip to the American Association of Bovine Practitioners annual conference in St. Louis Sept. 21-24. The students were recognized at the AABP Conference by AABP and award sponsor Merck Animal Health.

Sims, a junior veterinary student, also completed his bachelor’s degree in animal science at UF. He grew up in Simsville, Fla., a small farming community established by his great, great grandfather. Sims was active in 4-H and FFA and enjoyed showing and judging livestock.

He worked as a technician in two small-animal practices, assisted with large-animal research and interned at AgReserves Inc., a corporation that operates farms and ranches in North and South America, Europe and Australia. After graduating from veterinary school,  Sims hopes to become a professor of food-animal medicine and surgery at a college of veterinary medicine.

Since 2004, Merck Animal Health has awarded more than $120,000 in scholarships and travel expenses to 49 students through the AABP Bovine Veterinary Student Recognition Awards.

“Bovine veterinarians are critical to keeping food animals healthy and productive,” said Norman Stewart, D.V.M., livestock technical services manager for Merck Animal Health. “These exceptional bovine veterinary students will play a vital role as they prepare to apply their education, skills and unique experiences to benefit the industry.”

Students in their junior and senior years of veterinary school are eligible to receive the award. Students are selected based on work experience, academic achievements, career goals and their primary interests in veterinary medicine.

Gatz Riddell, D.V.M., AABP executive vice president, said the student award winners will benefit both from monetary assistance in the face of rising education costs and from the opportunity to attend the AABP Annual Conference, where they network with AABP members who can help shape their careers.

“This award is an important partnership with Merck Animal Health that supports AABP’s mission to improve opportunities for careers in bovine medicine,” Riddell said.

 

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