Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

A graduate of the college has donated nearly $2 million to create a scholarship to fully support one or more students each year, starting in 2023. This gift is the largest ever made to the college by an alumnus and will have a significant impact on the lives of many future veterinarians.

Each year, Virginia Tech’s Giving Day provides the opportunity for the community to come together, showing that gifts of all amounts truly do make a difference. The impact is doubled when generous community members pledge extra dollars that unlock when we hit participation milestones.

“We support the VMCVM because healing pets helps to heal people – the world gets two great outcomes for the price of one,” said Michael Stanton, dean’s advisory council member and philanthropic partner. “What could be better than healing living beings, and where could you find a better value?”

Petco Love, in collaboration with its campaign partner Blue Buffalo, granted the Animal Cancer Care and Research Center in Roanoke, Virginia $75,000 to provide financial assistance to pet owners who may not be able to pay for some or all of the cancer diagnostic tests and treatment for their dogs and cats.

Chris Meade, Fishersville, VA, got her first Sheltie in 1985 and was hooked. In the past 37 years, twelve of her beloved animals have been treated at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Virginia Tech (VTH). The incredible care her animals received, most recently for her 11-month old Sheltie who developed a pancreatic abscess, has left her indebted to the VTH and eager to give back.

Virginia Tech alumni Ron and Tami Guilliams of Stanley, N.C, were inspired this year to fund a full-tuition scholarship for a DVM student, recognizing the importance of veterinarians in the community.

Over the last 24 years, the Siamese Cat Rescue, founded and operated by Siri and Darrell Zwemke, has helped over 12,000 Siamese cats find loving homes.

With an anticipated opening date in fall of 2023, The Steven and Jane Hale Indoor Arena Complex at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center (EMC) will provide the ideal environment to evaluate not only orthopedic issues but heart, lung and other issues associated with athletic performance in the horse.

For years, Bernie and Lynn Cosell’s home and passion project—Fantasy Farm in Pearisburg, Virginia—has been a destination for experiential learning for the veterinary college’s students. The Cosells partnership with the college has been mutually beneficial as they sleep better at night knowing they can depend on the 24/7 emergency support from the VTH’s large animal service.

Oncology clinicians at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine are dedicated to advancing cancer treatments in animals and humans alike.

What started as a crowdfunding project to honor the memory of Susan West Marmagas, who was director of Virginia Tech’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program and an associate professor of practice in the Department of Population Health Sciences, has evolved into an endowment. Marmagas’ brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Deborah West, pledged the difference between what was raised in the campaign and endowment level to create a new permanent scholarship.

During a visit to campus, Ray and Diann Boyd, who have already generously named the veterinary college as a beneficiary of their estate, were inspired by the need for a new underwater treadmill for the physical rehabilitation service.

For the first time in 2022, alumni came together to fund the white coats for first year DVM students, with contributions that cover the cost of each white coat while also having a percentage go towards veterinary student scholarships. One alumna, Dr. Courtney Wiegard (DVM ’05), recognized the opportunity and presented it to her company, National Veterinary Associates (NVA), who enthusiastically sponsored the remainder of the coats. We are grateful to our alumni and to NVA for providing these sponsorships as well as the above and beyond gift of scholarship. Their gift not only welcomes our students to the college and into their new professional association, it also provides critical funding to help support their education as they advance through the rigorous veterinary curriculum.