2026 ACVS Foundation Student Surgery Proficiency Award

The ACVS Foundation congratulates the recipients of the 2026 ACVS Foundation Student Surgery Proficiency Award. These students have demonstrated exceptional aptitude through initiative, diagnostic skill, dexterity, and perioperative care of animals undergoing surgery. All accredited veterinary schools in the US and Canada are invited to participate in this award program.

Lauren C. Ayres Martinez
Western University of Health Sciences
Large Animal

Madelynn Bernau
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Large Animal

Amanda Bolinger
Kansas State University
Large Animal

Ayanna Olivia Brown
Tuskegee University
Small Animal

Chessa Brown
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Large Animal

Francesca Buchalski
Cornell University
Large Animal

Mara Ramos Cabrera
North Carolina State University
Large Animal

Megan Comstock
University of Florida
Large Animal

Morgan Cunningham
University of Georgia
Small Animal

Etienne de Jongh
University of Calgary
Small Animal

Alyssa DeWeerdt
Midwestern University
Large Animal

Kelly Anna Drescher
University of Guelph
Large Animal

Austin Dykas

Louisiana State University
Small Animal

Makenzie Fields

Mississippi State University
Small Animal

Camryn Fisher

The Ohio State University
Large Animal

Siona Fuller

Oklahoma State University
Small Animal

Caitlin Gaffney

Oregon State University
Large Animal

Jacqui Gironella

University of Calgary
Large Animal

Katherine Griffin

University of California, Davis
Large Animal

Keely “Duck” Harris
Purdue University
Small Animal

Karina Herrera
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Small Animal

Edward Tate Hunda
University of Georgia
Large Animal

Bethany Jackson
Auburn University
Small Animal

Samone Johnson
University of California, Davis
Small Animal

Kyra Neve Kavanagh
University of Guelph
Small Animal

Tyler Kirk
Lincoln Memorial University
Small Animal

Emily Therese Leroux
University of Minnesota
Large Animal

Sunny Levitis
Cornell University
Small Animal

Madison Lofgren
University of Pennsylvania
Large Animal

Sophia Margaritis
Midwestern University
Small Animal

Ellen Marshall
University of Saskatchewan
Small Animal

Samantha Masca
Colorado State University
Small Animal

Trevor Meier
Texas Tech University
Large Animal

Renick Meyer
Washington State University
Small Animal

Samuel P. Millard
Iowa State University
Large Animal

Meg Mulder
North Carolina State University
Small Animal

Samantha Naughton
Mississippi State University
Large Animal

William Newton
Auburn University
Large Animal

Payton Pierce
Kansas State University
Small Animal

Alexa Pompa
The Ohio State University
Small Animal

Sarah Price
University of Illinois
Small Animal

Megan Rice
University of Missouri
Large Animal

Hallie Richardson
University of Pennsylvania
Small Animal

Micah Roberts
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Small Animal

Kaila Rowe
Oklahoma State University
Large Animal

Luis Salazar Chavez
Oregon State University
Small Animal

Kaitlin Schmoyer
University of Prince Edward Island
Large Animal

Calah Sewell
University of Minnesota
Small Animal

Karly Souders
University of Florida
Small Animal

Kisa Storey
University of Prince Edward Island
Small Animal

Sydney Talbot
Louisiana State University
Large Animal

Haley “Korrine” Tate
Purdue University
Large Animal

Nathan Turrell
Lincoln Memorial University
Large Animal

Melinda Weinberg
Western University of Health Sciences
Small Animal

Kylie Yancey
Colorado State University
Large Animal

Zoey Zentkovich
Iowa State University
Small Animal