PVM Student Receives Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award at WVC

March 30, 2018

A group photo of a diverse assembly of people posing together in a formal setting.

Third-year Purdue veterinary student Mary Jordan (front row, fifth from right) is pictured in the “class photo” for the 2018 recipients of the Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas.

Congratulations to Mary Jordan, of the DVM Class of 2019, who was honored at the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) in Las Vegas, Nev., earlier this month as a recipient of the Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award. The award recognizes third-year veterinary students who portray leadership and promote lifelong service to the profession. Given annually, the award is bestowed upon 36 DVM students from accredited North American veterinary colleges and schools, who are actively involved and show long-term leadership potential. Additionally, two veterinary technician students are selected to receive the Award via NAVTA.

The award is named in honor of the late Dr. Jack Walther, who attended the annual WVC for more than 50 years, serving as a committee chairman, board member, and president. He also served as president of the American Veterinary Medical Association from 2003-2004. After earning his DVM degree at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1963, Dr. Walther served two years in the US. Army Veterinary Corps before opening a small animal practice in Reno, Nev., and later expanding the practice to three veterinary hospitals. In 2002, Dr. Walther championed the program that later would bear his name to bring one veterinary student from each veterinary school in the U.S. and Canada to the WVC Annual Conference. Dr. Walther passed away in November 2017.

Each recipient of the Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award receives $1000, along with complimentary registration, airfare, and a daily stipend to attend the WVC, which this year was held March 4-8. The recipients also receive an additional complimentary registration to attend a future WVC Annual Conference.

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

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