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Open House

Open House

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2025 Open House a success! We’re so grateful to our amazing volunteers and everyone who attended. We had a fantastic time and can’t wait to see you again next year!

The Hokie Bird poses in front of the veterinary collage with a child and parent at Open House 2025.

Veterinary college Open House — a day of discovery, dedication, and delight

What happens when you combine nearly 1,000 curious visitors, dedicated veterinary students, and a menagerie of animals on a sunny spring day? 

You get the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) Open House — bigger and better than ever this year, with activities spilling from classrooms to courtyards across our veterinary campus. 

A farrier hits on a heated horse shoe during a presentation.
Demonstration by the surgery club at Open House. They sutured stuffed animal keychains for participants.
Demonstration on giving vaccines at Open House.
Four volunteers pose for a photo during registration at Open House.
Group of people painting rocks during Open House.
Children hunting for plastic eggs at Open House.

Sparking curiosity, one activity at a time

On Saturday, April 19, the VMCVM campus transformed into an interactive playground of veterinary discovery. 

Student volunteers in maroon shirts — giving up part of their Easter weekend to share what they love — guided visitors through a remarkable array of experiences. From extracting strawberry DNA in laboratories to watching horseshoe crafting demonstrations, each activity opened a window into the fascinating world of veterinary medicine.

Families moved from station to station, discovering they couldn't possibly see everything in one visit. Children peered through microscopes, carefully bandaged teddy bears, and created colorful crafts while learning about animal anatomy and care. 

The energy was infectious, with veterinary and public health students, faculty and staff explaining complex concepts in ways that made science accessible and exciting for all ages.

Geico being help at Open House.
Person standing with the Hokie Bird.
Brown rabbit laying beside a container of straw.
Painted horse demonstration at Open House.
Sheep demonstration at Open House.
Clydesdale horses trotting.

Stars of the show — animals and mascots

No veterinary event would be complete without animals, and they took center stage throughout the day. 

The impressive Clydesdale horses drew admiring crowds, while locally owned sheep delighted children, many of whom had never been so close to farm animals before. The specially trained Virginia Tech Police Department K9s demonstrated their skills to captivate audiences, showing how these remarkable animals serve our community. 

The Hokie Bird proved to be a sensation, drawing crowds wherever it appeared. Children and adults alike lined up for photos, high-fives, and hugs with Virginia Tech's beloved mascot. Meanwhile, the egg hunt created a flurry of activity across the lawn as children dashed with baskets in hand, hunting for treasures hidden in the grass — a simple joy that became one of the day's most memorable activities.

Public Health program volunteers and the Hokie Bird standing in front of an inflatable colon.
K-9 demonstration at Open House.
Child in a white coat holding a stethoscope.
Kid smiling at a horse.
Kids petting a horse with braided hair.
School of Animal Science table at Open House.
Germ demonstration at Open House.
K-9 demonstration at Open House.
Ultrasound demonstration at Open House.

Learning through experience

What made the Open House truly special was how it transformed education into adventure. 

The inflatable colon walkthrough turned public health education into a memorable journey. The painted horses showing internal anatomy gave visitors X-ray vision without special glasses. The farrier demonstrations connected modern veterinary science to age-old crafts that still protect animal health today. 

Inside classrooms and labs, visitors got behind-the-scenes access to normally off-limits facilities, where future veterinarians showcased specialized tools and techniques. 

Visitors got behind-the-scenes access to facilities normally closed to the public, seeing firsthand where the next generation of veterinary professionals are trained. Information tables provided guidance for prospective students, while merchandise booths offered VMCVM-branded souvenirs to remember the day. 

Public health table at Open House.
Equine demonstration at Open House.
Sheep demonstration at Open House.
Farrier horse shoe display at Open House.

The heart behind the Open House

What the photos can't fully capture is the dedication behind this event. Faculty, staff and students spent weeks planning demonstrations. Facilities and staff coordinated logistics across multiple buildings and outdoor spaces. Most impressively, student volunteers gave up their holiday weekend to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with visitors.

The question by day's end was who had more fun — the visitors discovering veterinary medicine for the first time, or the VMCVM community sharing their passion with eager minds. From the smiles visible on faces throughout our campus, it seems the joy was equally shared. 

As visitor after visitor departed with VMCVM merchandise, informational brochures, and heads full of new knowledge, the large "THANK YOU" sign on our hillside seemed to speak both from and to everyone involved. Our thanks to Banfield Pet Hospital, Merck Animal Health and Coca-Cola for sponsoring this celebration of veterinary medicine, and to every visitor who made the day unforgettable.

For those already looking forward to next year's event — we are too! 

Maroon and Orange letters standing in grass that say "Thank You"./