Purdue VBMA Certificate Ceremony Gives Veterinary Students a Career Jump Start

May 10, 2024

Purdue VBMA president Troy Todd, of the DVM Class of 2026, hands a certificate to fellow student Julie Soda, of the DVM Class of 2025, at the VBMA Business Certificate Banquet.

A first-of-its-kind ceremony in Lynn Hall helped a cadre of veterinary students take an important step forward as they prepare for their veterinary medical careers. The Purdue Chapter of the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) held its inaugural Business Certificate Banquet during lunch on Friday, April 19 in Lynn 1136.

The Business Certificate recognizes the completion of 16 hours of educational credit received through the curriculum offered by the VBMA to develop the business knowledge of each student and help them prepare for productive careers in veterinary medicine as successful associates or business owners. The banquet program began with remarks by Dr. Ellen Lowery, associate dean for hospital operations, chief veterinary officer, and clinical professor, who serves as the Purdue VBMA faculty advisor, and spoke about the value of the instruction and training that students receive through the Business Certificate Program.

The program utilizes interactive lectures, workshops, and events outside of veterinary school curricula to provide the Business Certificate graduate with awareness and knowledge about the concepts of business and personal finance, management, emotional intelligence, marketing, and more. The Business Certificate is founded on the following four pillars:

Category 1: Business Finance
Category 2: Business Operation, Management, Ownership
Category 3: Business Leadership Skills
Category 4: Career and Personal Development

At the conclusion of the recognition program, students who completed the VBMA Business Certificate program gathered for a group photo.

A total of 37 students, representing all four DVM classes, were recognized for completing the certificate program. The names of the recipients were announced during the ceremony and those present came forward to accept their certificates, which were presented by members of the 2023-2024 Purdue VBMA Executive Board – President Troy Todd, Vice-President Brandon Bardin, Treasurer Ashley Rauda, and Secretary Kendall Sattler, who are all members of the DVM Class of 2026. The honorees also received a recognition gift from the organization, before gathering for a group photo.

Congratulations to each of the following Business Certificate Program graduates!

Class of 2024

Hanna Johnson
Allie Megl
Julia Motto
Elizabeth Schoenlein
Stephanie Verkuilen
Lisa Watson

Class of 2025

Devon Anderson
Shelby Boschma
Alicia Cleaver
Valeria Figueroa Ortiz
Zakk Franklin
Sami Hartman-Stackhouse
Frank Leitgeb
Bridget Mallin
Alexandra Meyer
Madeline Milburn
Kiara Nobbe
Madeleine Nunn
Anne Perkins
Juan Ramirez
Marissa Ramon
Carlee Roberts
Lacey Schram
Juli Soda
Sydney Taylor
Cameron Vaughn
Kaitlyn Wolfe

Class of 2026

Brandon Bardin
Andrea Gonzalez Vazquez
Sara Helming
Jacob Mishne
Alejandra Ortiz Perez
Ashley Rauda
Kendall Sattler
Aaron Seymour
Troy Todd

Class of 2027

Hallie Sorg

The Veterinary Business Management Association describes itself as a student-driven organization dedicated to advancing the profession through increasing business knowledge, creating networking opportunities, and empowering students to achieve their personal and professional goals. The Purdue VBMA Business Certificate Program banquet was sponsored by NVA (National Veterinary Associates).

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

Basic Medical Sciences Faculty Member Selected as Showalter Faculty Scholar

Dr. Dianne Little, associate professor of basic medical sciences, is one of four Purdue University faculty members newly named as Showalter Faculty Scholar recipients. These appointments bring the number of currently funded Showalter scholars on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus to 15. The Showalter Trust also provided 13 early career faculty members with 2025 research grants, including a member of the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department Faculty.

United Way Shares PVM Family’s Story as College Approaches it’s Purdue United Way Goal

With the Purdue United Way Campaign in week 6, the United Way of Greater Lafayette shared the story of a Purdue Veterinary Medicine family to highlight just how much impact giving local has on the local community. The story is that of Angela Pickett, executive assistant to the dean, and her son, Charlie, who both have experienced the impact of the United Way and its programs.

Faculty Receive Recognition at Purdue Veterinary Medicine Fall Awards Celebration

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine celebrated the accomplishments of outstanding faculty at a special Faculty Awards Celebration held in Lynn Hall. The recognition program Thursday, October 23, featured the presentation of four awards for outstanding teaching and excellence in research and service, as well as a new award named in honor of Dean Emeritus Willie Reed and State Representative Sheila Klinker, that recognizes an exemplary community partnership.

PVM Professor and Interim Department Head Tim Lescun Elected to ACVS Board of Regents

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) has announced the results of the election to choose a new president-elect and two new members of the ACVS Board of Regents, and one of the new leaders is Dr. Tim Lescun, BVSc, MS, PhD, DACVS, Purdue Veterinary Medicine professor and interim head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

Trick-or-Treat without the stress: Tips to keep your pets safe this Halloween

It’s Halloween! So don’t forget about your furry friends and how the excitement of trick-or-treaters and unfamiliar faces can disrupt their usual routine. Pets go missing all year long, of course, but especially during Fourth of July and Halloween celebrations.

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Today we’re congratulating Carissa Burgess, who is a Pre-Award Sponsored Program Services staff person for all of her efforts in her role.