HSVMA Awards First Compassionate Care Scholarships

to Veterinary Technician Students

November 20, 2024

By Heather Schrader RVT, MCJ

HSVMA was thrilled to award our inaugural Compassionate Care Scholarships for Veterinary Technician Students this year!  Our organization recognizes the skill and dedication required of our invaluable and often under-utilized team members. Two $5,000 scholarships were awarded to students who are currently attending an AVMA-accredited veterinary technician school in the US and who demonstrate an interest in animal welfare, animal rights, or animal protection issues and represent a commitment to equitable access and inclusion in veterinary medicine via service or lived experience.  

HSVMA recognizes that we cannot advance animal welfare without deliberate and conscious attempts to include more people and more perspectives.  This year's scholarship selection process was, therefore, deliberately designed to support efforts to expand access to veterinary care in underserved communities and to promote diverse representation within the veterinary profession itself.  HSVMA would like to acknowledge and thank all of the many qualified applicants.  They reinforce HSVMA's commitment to student outreach and reveal the remarkable activities that vet students achieve while in school.

2024 Compassionate Care Scholarship Recipients

Edlin Cornejo, Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology

Kebreaunna Benn, Penn Foster College

Edlin attends Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology in Denver, CO.  Her family fled El Salvador in the 1980s, and she was born and raised in Compton, CA.  She most recently served as the Associate Manager of the Denver Dumb Friends League Veterinary Clinic at CSU Spur.  She has worked extensively within her community and was involved with an outreach project focused on bilingual disease prevention education with Dr. Louisa Poon at the Denver Animal Shelter.

Dr. Kyla Krissek, a veterinarian who worked with Edlin at Denver Dumb Friends League, stated in her letter of recommendation that "Edlin recognizes the joy that the human-animal bond creates and how this should be accessible to members of all communities. I think education is such a powerful part of responsible pet ownership, and Edlin has helped those in her community by educating them in a non-judgmental way."

Edlin says of her work, "In communities like mine, spending money on pet care has always been viewed as a luxury. However, my same community taught me that changes do not come on their own, and this inspired me to take action and facilitate change."  We're confident that she will continue to educate and serve community members who seek solutions for accessible veterinary care.

Kebreaunna attends Penn Foster College and resides in Atlanta, GA.  She has volunteered for several years at the Atlanta Humane Society and has participated in multiple HQHV spay/neuter clinics in the US, Mexico and the Bahamas with Animal Balance, Operation Kindness and The Empty Shelter Project.  After graduation, she plans to start an outreach program to educate and empower pet parents and provide resources for not only veterinary care, but also grooming, insurance and financial aid services. 

"Beyond her academic achievements, Kebreaunna is also an exemplary individual who is a valuable team member. She is highly respected by peers and directors alike for her integrity, work ethic, and collaborative spirit." stated Dr. Jennifer Morris, Director of Animal Health at Atlanta Humane Society.  "She possesses all the qualities necessary to make meaningful contributions to our profession in veterinary medicine."

Kebreaunna stated in her scholarship application, "During my outreach experience, I frequently encountered owners who did not understand what their pet’s procedures entailed, only that it was meant to help their pets live healthier lives. This opened my eyes to the need for a greater focus on animal welfare in combination with more extensive client education in low-income communities worldwide. I realized it isn’t enough to simply treat the animals; veterinary professionals also have a duty to properly educate the pet-parents who have entrusted the lives of their companions in our hands."  We're proud to support Kebreaunna in her mission to empower pet parents.

The HSVMA Compassionate Care Scholarships application will be available next year. Contact [email protected] with any questions about the program.