College of Veterinary Medicine
2007 Honors Banquet

The College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual Honors Banquet is a time to recognize students and faculty for a wide array of achievements. Academic proficiency, clinical skills, leadership, professionalism and teaching ability are some of the characteristics that were rewarded. The ceremony also provides the College with an opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations that make the gifts possible. Dr. Cott, Associate Dean for Student and Alumni Affairs presided over this year’s ceremonies held in Columbia, Missouri.

More than one-quarter of a million dollars was distributed in scholarships and gifts. Among this year’s awards were six new scholarship funds. Following is a list of the new scholarships and a brief description of their origin and intent.

Mule Club Scholarship – This award is presented to an outstanding member of the Mule Club. This gift was given by the Southeast Jefferson Saddle Club in memory of George Radin.

Don Blenden Memorial Scholarship Fund – This scholarship, established in honor of the late Dr. Don Blenden, was given to a 3rd or 4th year College of Veterinary Medicine student with an intention to enter the Veterinary Public Health field. This year’s award was presented by Dr. Robert Herzog. Dr. Hertzog is an alumnus of the College of Veterinary Medicine (MU Class of 1956) and a past Executive Board Chair of the AVMA.

Dr. George Shelton

Joy and George Shelton Veterinary Medical Scholarship – This award was established to provide an annual scholarship to an entering 4th year veterinary medicine student. The recipient is required to demonstrate leadership skills and an express interest in organized veterinary medicine. Dr. Shelton served in 1944 and 1945 as a radio operator on a B-25 Mitchell strafer-bomber in the Southwest Pacific. After discharge, he attended veterinary school at Texas A&M. He had an illustrious career in veterinary medicine which included roles as a private veterinarian, Professor and Associate Dean of UMC College of Veterinary Medicine and Dean at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Shelton is also a published author and has written a fictional story based on the real experiences of a Mitchell strafer-bomber combat crew that flew in the Southwest Pacific in 1944-1945. The late Joy Shelton stood by her husband’s side as he led students to their degrees. Her passion for the students was unending.

Pierce Family: (left to right) Dr. John W. Pierce, Dr. Scott Pierce, Dr. Stephanie Pierce and Dr. Stuart Pierce.

John W. Pierce Scholarship in Food Animal and Equine Veterinary Medicine – This award was presented by Dr. John W. Pierce, Jr., D.V.M., a 1952 graduate of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and his family. Dr. Scott and Dr. Stuart Pierce, also in attendance, have tendered the sum of $10,000 with the commitment to add additional funds to the University for the purpose of establishing a permanently endowed scholarship fund at the University of Missouri, Columbia to benefit students who have excelled in Food Animal (swine and bovine) or Equine veterinary medicine and/or surgery. Also in attendance was the fourth family veterinarian, Dr. Stephanie Pierce.

Karen L. Campbell Scholarship – This award is presented to a 4th year student who has demonstrated academic excellence by ranking in the top 25% of their class at the completion of their 3rd year at the UMC CVM. The Karen L. Campbell Scholarship is established in perpetuity by Dr. John R. and Eunice J. Campbell in honor of their daughter, Karen, in recognition of the high level of academic excellence she consistently demonstrated as a student in the UMC CVM (1979 D.V.M., summa cum laude). Dr. Karen Campbell achieved board certification in two veterinary specialties—the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine) and the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. This year’s award was presented by Dr. and Mrs. John Campbell.

Nelson Stone Scholarship Fund – This scholarship is given to a 3rd or 4th year student who is interested in becoming a small animal veterinarian and is from southeast Missouri. This award is in honor of Dr. Nelson Stone ’55 of Jackson, MO. His former client Gwen Winningham, provided a gift to the university in her estate planning to establish a scholarship fund for veterinary medical students.

The College of Veterinary Medicine would like to thank both our new and existing supporters for their generosity and dedication to our students, the veterinary profession and Missouri’s only College of Veterinary Medicine.

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