OSU veterinary student wins Hill's Big Win Challenge!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Shana Watkins, Class of 2011, of Waukomis, Okla., recently won Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.’s Big Win Challenge representing Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. The grand prize—one year of tuition up to $20,000 for Watkins and $5,000 to the OSU veterinary center’s Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Students from U.S. veterinary colleges engaged their classmates to vote for their veterinary school.  Watkins was randomly selected from her class as the OSU representative.  For the first time, OSU was in the top six and the only school to get 100 percent participation from its students!  Watkins and representatives from the other five schools (Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, North Caroline State University, the University of Florida and the University of Missouri) each received a complimentary trip to the AVMA Convention in Atlanta, Ga., for the grand prize drawing.

“It was unbelievably exciting to win the scholarship and trip,” smiles Watkins.  “I could not be more proud to represent OSU and to be part of such an amazing student body.  The support I received from fellow veterinary students was incredible.  I can’t wait until the traveling trophy and the SCAVMA check arrive because our students are so deserving of both.”

Hill’s Pet Nutrition began this scholarship five years ago viewing it as an investment in support  of veterinary students as they prepare for the future.  Upon graduation, OSU veterinary students will often face debts in excess of $120,000.