Royal Canin USA, a pet food maker in St. Charles, Mo., and Vet Set Go, an online community administered from St. Augustine, Fla., that inspires teens interested in veterinary science through games, testimonials and industry connections, are sponsoring the “Become A Vet: Camp Contest 2017.” The essay/photo contest will award three grand-prize scholarships to middle schoolers (sixth to eighth grade) to Auburn University’s Junior Vet Camp July 9 to 14. “We want to support sparking the interest of young minds and provide them with an opportunity to learn more about this noble profession,” said Dr. Brent Mayabb, DVM, Royal Canin USA vice president of corporate affairs. Each scholarship is an $800 value and covers camp tuition, meals, housing, instruction, local transportation while at camp and recreational activities but does not include travel expenses like airfare to and from camp. The camp will take place at Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Auburn, Ala., where the aspiring veterinarians will learn about veterinary medicine up close and personal in classrooms, laboratories and outdoor facilities. In additional to the three Junior Vet Camp scholarships, 10 runners-up will receive Vet Set Go’s hardcover guide (a $21 value) to becoming a veterinarian by Dr. Chris Carpenter, DVM, founder and president of Vet Set Go. Junior Vet Camp campers will learn about public health, food animals, wildlife, anatomy, imaging, first aid plus receive mentoring about veterinary careers. “The Vet Set Go Junior Vet Camp is unique in that it gives aspiring veterinarians a taste of what a career in veterinary medicine can look like, even early on in life,” Dr. Mayabb noted. It is too early to know if Royal Canin and Vet Set Go will partner on more Junior Vet Camps beyond 2017. Prospective future veterinarians have until May 4 to submit their 300-words-or-less story on why they want to become a vet as well as a photo showing them working with animals. Contest details are found at vetsetgo.com/about/become-a-vet-camp-contest.
