Outstanding Recent Alumni Award
About the award
The college recognizes a deserving individual who graduated from the DVM program within the past 10 years. The award winner receives a plaque from the Virginia Tech Alumni Association.
Eligibility
- Nominees must have earned a degree from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine 10 or less years ago.
- Nominees should exhibit strong professional ethics and exemplify the Virginia Tech motto, ut prosim (that I may serve) through deeds and actions that have enhanced their local communities, the commonwealth, and beyond. Nominees should demonstrate use of their knowledge and skills to benefit society, promote public health, and advance medical knowledge.
Criteria
- Nominees should have distinguished themselves professionally in their career or in rendering service to the university since graduating.
- The chief criterion is demonstrable positive impact.
- Service to the college may be considered, but exemplary service alone is neither sufficient nor required for this award.
Nomination procedures
Submit nomination materials here.
Selection and award presentation
- The Alumni Board of Directors will convene to provide a recommendation of the top 5 nominees through a majority vote.
- The VMCVM Honorifics Committee evaluates the top five nominations and makes a final recommendation to the Dean.
- The award is presented at the college's fall reunion events.
Past Recipients
- 2024 - Sara Waltz Johnston DVM ’16
- 2023 - Betsy Schroeder, DVM ’16, Ph.D. ’20
- 2022 - Lieutenant Commander Caitlin Cossaboom '10, MPH '14, Ph.D. '15, DVM '17
- 2021 - Cyndie Courtney, DVM ’11
- 2020 - Karen Meidenbauer, DVM ’16, MPH ’16
- 2019 - Claire Simeone, DVM ’11
- 2018 - Bom Harris, DVM ’08
- 2017 - Michael W. Nolan, DVM ’09
- 2016 - Megan Shepherd, DVM ’06, PhD ’12
- 2015 - Tom Cecere, DVM ’05
- 2014 – Melinda G. McCall, DVM ’04
- 2013 – Jennifer A. Landolfi, DVM ’03
- 2012 – Jared Taylor, DVM ’02
- 2011 – Maureen Noftsinger, DVM ’01
- 2010 – Lauren L. Howard, DVM ’00
- 2009 – Tanya LeRoith, DVM ’99
- 2008 – Jennifer H. McQuiston, DVM ’97
- 2007 – Lesley Ann Colby, DVM ’96, MS '97
- 2006 – Rhonda Rathgeber, DVM ’95
- 2005 – Almira J. Leslie, DVM ’94
- 2004 – Jane A.C. Rooney, DVM ’93
- 2003 – William D. Tyrrell, Jr., DVM ’92
- 2002 – Rebecca L. Rice, DVM ’91, PhD '95
- 2001 – Steven R. Escobar, DVM ’90
- 2000 – Anthony T. Blikslager, DVM ’89
- 1999 – Susan E. Little, DVM ’93
- 1998 – Lauren A. Sweet, DVM ’93