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Twenty �ձ�av��Ƶ Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine students were honored at the annual Blue Coat Ceremony on Oct. 4. The first-year students were each presented with a personalized blue Carhartt work coat sponsored by a regional veterinarian to welcome them into the veterinary profession, and to South Dakota. 

“These coats symbolize the hard work you’ve done to get to this point and the hard work to come, but these are work coats, not a fancy item to put on a shelf or display,” said Russ Daly, �ձ�av��Ƶ professor and �ձ�av��Ƶ Extension veterinarian. “The coats serve a purpose. They will keep you warm, but they will also tie you to the students who have come before you and the ones who will come after. 

Students honored during the ceremony are part of the fifth cohort to start their veterinary school journey at �ձ�av��Ƶ. In 2021, it began as a 2+2 program with the University of Minnesota. Students gain hands-on and practical experience working with food and companion animals in a cohort of 20 during their first two years at �ձ�av��Ƶ and then finish their schooling and clinical training at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. The program focuses on growing the number of rural-practicing veterinarians across the state. 

The program saw its first 18 graduates from Minnesota this past May, with six returning to South Dakota to practice. A number of speakers shared words of wisdom with the students and their families at the ceremony. �ձ�av��Ƶ President Barry Dunn, South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Joe Cassady and Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine Director Lisa Lunn were just a few of the members of university and college leadership on hand, along with many of the coat sponsors who offered words of advice in addition to the jackets. 

“You're doing something truly amazing. Veterinary school is tough, but so are you,” Kara Robbins, DVM, of East River Equine Vet Services, said to her coat recipient. “Every long night, every challenge, it's shaping you into the compassionate, skilled vet the world needs. Keep going. You’ve got what it takes, and one day, all of this will be worth it.” 

Veterinary students celebrated and presented with a blue coat at the ceremony include: 

• Anna Beckett of McClave, Colorado – sponsored by Jessie Christensen, South Dakota Animal Industry Board
• Kinsey Carr of Dell Rapids – sponsored by Beth Thompson, state veterinarian for South Dakota
• Grace Cheeseman of Chamberlain – sponsored by Corale Dorn, Dells Vet Clinic
• Sarah Cousins of Longmont, Colorado – sponsored by Dave Knudsen, professor, �ձ�av��Ƶ Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine
• Zoa Crieger of Ramsey, Minnesota – sponsored by Alex Rogen, Horizon Pet Care
• Tara Feucht of Brookings – sponsored by Caly Bornsen, Webster
• Braden Fritz of Winona, Minnesota – sponsored by Kay Miller, Fulton
• Madison Hofer of Freeman – sponsored by Jennifer Malkus, Sioux Nation Ag
• Caitlyn Keyes of Larsen, Wisconsin – sponsored by Eric Knock, Prairie View Clinic
• Gretchen Kienholz of Crystal, Minnesota – sponsored by Kara Robbins, East River Equine Vet Services
• Christine Kuhl of Avon, Minnesota – sponsored by Debin Tian, �ձ�av��Ƶ Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
• Sage Mortenson of Groton, South Dakota – sponsored by Steven Smith, Groton Veterinary Clinic
• Kendrick Otto of Cannon Falls, Minnesota – sponsored by Chris Chase, Professor Emeritus of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
• Allison Reeder of Logan, Utah – sponsored by Jane Christopher-Hennings, Professor Emerita of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
• Abigail Ronkainen of Carlton, Minnesota – sponsored by David Zeman, Professor Emeritus of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
• Caeten Ross of Davis, California – sponsored by John Witten, retired veterinarian
• Avrie Shefl of Vermillion – sponsored by Mark Appelhof, Clear Lake Vet Clinic
• Julia Slaughter of Roebuck, South Carolina – sponsored by Peter Moisan, professor, �ձ�av��Ƶ Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine
• Victoria Uecker of Rochester, Minnesota – sponsored by Greg Adolf, Northern Plains Animal Health
• Hannah Wetli of Hawley, Minnesota – sponsored by Jaclyn Carlson Van Lith, Homestead Animal Health, and Carissa Odland, professor, �ձ�av��Ƶ Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine 

In addition to the coat sponsors, the ceremony was sponsored by the South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association and Medgene. More information about the �ձ�av��Ƶ Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine can be found on the program’s website.