Business
(2009-07-29)
Listen Now:
COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine received a major award Wednesday in honor of two late golden retrievers. KBIA's Maureen McCollum reports.
null
David and Gloria Lowell brought their dog Goldi to the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine for bone cancer treatment in 2003. The St. Louis couple was so happy with care their golden retriever received, they decided to donate $1 million to the veterinary school. Two scholarships were created in honor of Goldi and their other pup Honee. Both partial scholarships will be awarded to students with financial needs from rural backgrounds, one focused on oncology and the other on the study of human-animal bonds. David Lowell says the scholarship wasn't only created with the desire to help animals.
"We felt we that would make some contribution to some needy students. We know that there's a heavy financial load that they bear in getting their education. We felt we could help in any way with the scholarship and with the help of the university staff here, we've done what we can."
The average veterinary student graduates with a debt of more than $100,000. College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Dr. Neil Olson says the starting pay for a vet doesn't keep pace with the cost of education.
"And it is a problem I think in getting us the highest quality applicants into the college and so that's why we're very grateful about this donation that will help us have a larger application pool."
MU's veterinary college is the only one in Missouri, and one of 28 in the country. The American Veterinary Medical Association says the demand for certain veterinarians, especially those treating large and rural animals, is increasing, while the number of vets graduating is decreasing.
Chancellor Brady Deaton recognizes the demand, and sees it as an educational and economic issue for the state. He says Kansas City has the largest concentration of animal health companies in the world.
"So these companies need the training that this College of Veterinary Medicine provides with advance laboratory animal and pathology training, and they look to us for that education and training of veterinarians."
The school will expand admissions to the veterinary college by adding 30 students. This brings the class size to 110. Dean Olson says he understands it will create a temporary strain on the facilities. The college is moving forward on preliminary plans to construct a new academic building.
© Copyright 2012, KBIA
