Five $10,000 Scholarships Available to Aspiring Swine Vets

Nov 24, 2025

By Abbey Canon

For the eleventh consecutive year, the AASV Foundation is collaborating with Merck Animal Health to offer the AASVF-Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarships. Thanks to a $50,000 contribution from Merck Animal Health, in 2026 the foundation will award 5 scholarships of $10,000 each to sophomore and junior veterinary students. The scholarships are intended to assist with the educational expenses of aspiring swine veterinarians.

Veterinary students in their second or third year, enrolled in AVMA-accredited or recognized veterinary colleges in the US, Canada, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean Islands, are eligible to apply. Applicants must be current student members of the AASV for the 2025-26 academic year. The application process requires submission of a resume, the name of a faculty member or AASV member for reference, and responses to four essay questions. Detailed application instructions are available at aasv.org/foundation/veterinary-students/aasvf-merck-scholarship/. Applications are due December 31.

Students who have previously received this scholarship from the AASV or the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) are not eligible to reapply.

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Video: Pandemic Risks in Swine - Dr. John Deen

I’m Phil Hord, and I’m excited to kick off my first episode as host on The Swine it Podcast Show. It’s a privilege to begin this journey with you. In this episode, Dr. John Deen, a retired Distinguished Global Professor Emeritus from the University of Minnesota, explains how pandemic threats continue to shape U.S. swine health and production. He discusses vulnerabilities in diagnostics, movement control, and national preparedness while drawing lessons from ASF, avian influenza, and field-level epidemiology. Listen now on all major platforms.

"Pandemic events in swine systems continue to generate significant challenges because early signals often resemble common conditions, creating delays that increase spread and economic disruption."