Vet Set Go and VCA Animal Hospitals announce winners of the 2023 "Become a Veterinarian Camp Contest"

• Winners will take part in the Become a Veterinarian Camp from June 18 - 23, 2023, at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.
• The 2023 competition attracted submissions from nearly 40 states and nearly triple the number of entrants in the 2022 competition.

Los Angeles & St. Augustine, Fla. — Nineteen states. Forty-five young people. And this summer, immeasurable benefits from early exposure to the joy of veterinary medicine. Vet Set Go, the first web-based community dedicated to helping young aspiring veterinarians, announced today the winners of this year's "Become a Veterinarian Camp Contest." With generous support from VCA Animal Hospitals, scholarships were awarded to 45 aspiring veterinary professionals who will attend the Become a Veterinarian Camp this summer, hosted by the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.

"The incredible interest in the competition and passion that jumped off the page of each entry was inspiring," said Chris Carpenter, DVM, founder and president of Vet Set Go. "Opportunities like the Become a Veterinarian Camp are like gold for aspiring veterinarians and it's an honor to work with partners like VCA and Auburn to offer this once-in-a-lifetime scholarship opportunity."

While attending the Become a Veterinarian Camp, contest winners will learn about veterinary medicine first-hand in Auburn University classrooms, clinics and laboratories. Programs include an array of species, ranging from dogs to raptors to cattle. Campers learn about public health, agricultural animals, wildlife, anatomy, imaging and first aid. They learn first-hand from current veterinary students about education and careers in veterinary medicine. Camp participants will also experience Auburn’s vibrant campus while residing in student dormitories, eating at campus dining facilities and enjoying evening social and recreational activities. Campers have fulltime counselor supervision.

"There's a lot of joy in this field. It's what attracted me and was a big part of my decision at an early age to pursue a career caring for animals," said Todd Lavender, DVM, president for VCA Animal Hospitals. "Each submission in this year's Vet Set Go competition spoke to the heart that we have in this profession and the commitment we each feel to doing our part to make a difference. I'm incredibly proud that VCA is supporting this program, caring for the future of veterinary medicine by supporting tomorrow's professionals."

Winners of this year's competition reflected a wide swath of the United States, representing Wisconsin, Kentucky, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, California, Arizona and 12 other states – with entries from young people in metropolitan, suburban and rural areas. They shared a common passion for animals with many speaking to not just a love of animals but admiration for the bonds between pets and people. The winners are:

"The Become a Veterinarian Camp creates an incredible opportunity for young professionals to get hands-on with our field. It's an honor for VCA to sponsor the scholarships, making the camp and this profession overall more accessible to more people," said Dr. Timbrala Marshall, urgent care medical operations leader for VCA. "A critical piece of ensuring the sustainability of the veterinary field is to attract and invite in a wider group of young people, people who reflect the diverse communities we serve every day."

As part of Mars, VCA understands that positively impacting the veterinary profession means planning across generations. To learn more about VCA Animal Hospitals and its programs for aspiring veterinary professionals, visit www.VCAhospitals.com. To learn more about Vet Set Go or the Become a Veterinarian Camp, visit www.vetsetgo.com. 

About Vet Set Go

Vet Set Go is the first and only web community dedicated to helping teen and tween aspiring veterinarians explore their passion. Founded by Dr. Christopher Carpenter in 2006, Vet Set Go encourages future veterinarians to pursue their dream and shows them how they can start today through such resources as its award-winning Vet Set Go book and the online Vet Academy shadowing courses. Vet Set Go’s Vet Volunteer app is the best way for students to find local volunteer opportunities while tracking their volunteer hours for veterinary college applications. Vet Set Go also introduces STEM subjects to aspiring veterinarians through online courses like “Introduction to Animal Anatomy” and free case study articles on the website. Proceeds from Vet Set Go sales help aspiring veterinarians through events like the “Become a Vet Camp Contest” and Vet Set Go book giveaways to students in need. For more information, visit www.vetsetgo.com.

About Auburn Junior Veterinary Camp

The Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine offers the Auburn Junior Veterinary Camp on its campus in Auburn, Alabama each summer for youth entering the sixth- through eighth-grade who are interested in the veterinary medicine profession. Faculty, technicians and second-year veterinary students provide unique veterinary coursework and experiences for campers in laboratories, classrooms and outdoor facilities in one of the nation’s premiere veterinary schools. Over the course of its 125-year plus history, the Auburn University has produced more than 6,400 veterinarians and more than 500 specialists and researchers.