CVM Trio Recognized in Inaugural ASPCA Veterinary Scholarship Program
Three students within the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine are part of the inaugural class of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Veterinary Scholarship Program.
Laquisha Alexander, Sophia Gouveia and Katelyn Pennington are among the 41 students from 28 colleges and universities who will receive professional development opportunities, mentorship and financial assistance through the program. Veterinary students receive up to $100,000 in scholarship funding, with veterinary technician students earning up to $20,000. Following graduation, students spend at least three years in animal welfare positions, including non-profit or municipal shelter medicine, spay-neuter programs, community-focused medicine, pasture-based agriculture and at-risk equine care.
Alexander, a fourth-year student in the Veterinary Medical Technology Program, earned an associate’s degree in animal sciences at Northwest Mississippi Community College before transferring to Mississippi State. The Byhalia, Miss., native has interest in small animal medicine, dentistry, ophthalmology, exotics and zoo medicine.
“I applied for the ASPCA scholarship in honor of my late childhood dog, whose life was tragically taken,” Alexander said. “Losing him the way I did shaped the way I view our responsibility to animals and is one of the reasons I chose to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. I wanted to be in a career surrounded by people who recognize and understand that animals deserve compassion, protection and love.”
Gouveia, a fourth-year DVM student from Tewksbury, Mass., earned her bachelor’s degree in pre-veterinary medicine with a minor in biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A first-generation college student, she holds leadership roles within the Homeward Bound Project of Mississippi and Shelter Medicine Club and routinely fosters dogs and cats in need.
“These experiences have shaped my belief that every animal deserves care, dignity, and compassion regardless of geographic location or financial circumstances,” Gouveia said. “As a future veterinarian, I hope to reduce financial barriers to veterinary care, advocate for spay and neuter and responsible adoption and provide accessible, high-quality medicine. Ultimately, I hope to build a career in a shelter or community-focused veterinary setting where I can advocate for both animals and the people who care for them.”
Pennington, a second-year student within the DVM program from Brandon, Miss., graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in biology and minors in chemistry and psychology in 2022. She is heavily involved on campus, serving as president of the Student Chapter of the Association of Shetler Veterinarians and holding additional leadership roles with Feline VMA and Homeward Bound.
“Receiving a scholarship from the ASPCA and joining the Scholars Network means more to me than I can fully express,” Pennington said. “It is incredibly meaningful to be supported by an organization whose mission aligns so closely with my passion for shelter medicine, animal welfare, and serving communities in need. This scholarship not only eases the financial burden of veterinary school, but also gives me encouragement, connection and confidence as I work toward a career dedicated to helping animals and the people who care for them.”