For the first time, a Purdue veterinary student has won the national Simmons Educational Fund (SEF) Business Aptitude Award. The recipient is Luke Bousema of the DVM Class of 2026. The award includes a cash prize of $35,000.
The purpose of the SEF Business Aptitude Award is to nurture business excellence among veterinary students who will apply their knowledge and experience to advance the veterinary profession. Each year, the SEF creates a new, real-world case study for which business-minded veterinary students will diagnose potential problems and present solutions.
Bousema was selected as the national award winner based on the exemplary case study he submitted, as well as on the strength of his educational and professional resume. “The structure of this case study forces you to approach a problem exactly the way you would in practice: make reasonable assumptions, reach out to experts, and use every resource available,” Bousema said. “This project pushed me to do all of that. I treated the prompt like a real clinic level decision as if my own money were on the line. Even if I had not been selected, the amount I learned both professionally and business wise made the effort worthwhile.”
Though other Purdue veterinary students have won in the regional level of the competition, this marks the first time a Purdue veterinary student has received the top national prize. The cash award is recognized as one of the highest awards in the industry.
Congratulations to Luke Bousema, who will graduate next weekend!
