This year, the Purdue Veterinary Medicine Chapter of Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment (VOICE) was recognized by the national VOICE organization with two awards: Excellence in Servitude and External Relations and Chapter of the Year. The Excellence in Servitude and External Relations Award recognizes a VOICE chapter which, in the past year, demonstrated exceptional commitment to serving their community through service and outreach. The Chapter of the Year is awarded annually to a chapter that fully encompasses the purpose of VOICE and exceeds the chapter requirements that are spelled out in the National Constitution and Bylaws.
The Purdue chapter was notified of the awards in early January in conjunction with the VOICE National Meeting held virtually January 7-9, 2022. Each award includes a $500 prize, meaning the Purdue chapter received a total of $1,000 to support future programming and the chapter’s continued excellence.
“We want to express our gratitude towards VOICE National for these awards,” said Purdue VOICE Chapter President Tyra Jenkins. “We work hard to help make the college as inclusive and welcoming as possible and we plan to use this funding to keep promoting diverse and inclusive programming for our community.”
Purdue VOICE is a unique organization that seeks to bridge the gap between professors, veterinary students, and veterinary nursing students, encouraging people from various backgrounds to exchange ideas, celebrate diversity, and discover common ground. All are welcome to experience chapter events, such as panel discussions and keynote speakers, and to learn more about the PVM family both personally and professionally.
“We believe VOICE is an important organization because its events are hosted by students for students,” Tyra said.
VOICE National is a student-run organization that seeks to increase awareness, respect, and sensitivity to differences among all individuals and communities in the field of veterinary medicine. VOICE also aims to celebrate diversity within the profession, to encourage campus environments that embrace diversity and promote the success of all students, and to emphasize the importance of cross-cultural awareness in veterinary medicine to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse clientele.
In addition to the Chapter of the Year and Excellence in Servitude and External Relations awards, the national organization also presented awards for Programming Excellence and the Most Improved Chapter during the national meeting. Those awards went to VOICE chapters at the University of Georgia and Colorado State University, respectively.