Contact: Sammy McDavid
Mississippi State's College of Veterinary Medicine is among five Southeastern Conference universities now at the mid-point of a challenge to determine which has the most loyal alumni supporters.
The schools--MSU, Auburn, Georgia, Louisiana State, and Tennessee--will split $25,000 in scholarship support provided by Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. as part of the Topeka, Kan., company's SEC Veterinary Alumni Challenge.
"The needs of our college, its departments, faculty, staff, and students often exceed the appropriated resources available," said Dr. John Thomson, MSU veterinary dean. "Therefore, we must depend on the generosity of our alumni and friends like Hill's to accomplish our mission."
Keith Gaskin, development director for the veterinary college, said all donations of $25 or more given between July 31 of this year and June 30, 2004, are counted. Since participating universities have different numbers of alumni, the percentage of graduates who give will be used to determine the winning school, he explained.
"Graduates of veterinary colleges feel very strongly about their alma maters and the Hill's Challenge is designed to increase annual giving percentages," Gaskin said.
In addition to scholarships, veterinary colleges and schools typically use funds given by alumni and friends to purchase equipment for their teaching hospitals and for modernizing other facilities.
One of only 27 in the United States, the MSU veterinary college was established by the Legislature in 1974 and admitted its first class in 1977. Since then, the academic unit has earned a reputation for the pioneering use of computer-based instruction. It now is recognized as a national leader in implementing problem-based learning in the curriculum.
For more information on the alumni challenge, contact Gaskin at (662) 325-3815.
Mississippi State's College of Veterinary Medicine is among five Southeastern Conference universities now at the mid-point of a challenge to determine which has the most loyal alumni supporters.
The schools--MSU, Auburn, Georgia, Louisiana State, and Tennessee--will split $25,000 in scholarship support provided by Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. as part of the Topeka, Kan., company's SEC Veterinary Alumni Challenge.
"The needs of our college, its departments, faculty, staff, and students often exceed the appropriated resources available," said Dr. John Thomson, MSU veterinary dean. "Therefore, we must depend on the generosity of our alumni and friends like Hill's to accomplish our mission."
Keith Gaskin, development director for the veterinary college, said all donations of $25 or more given between July 31 of this year and June 30, 2004, are counted. Since participating universities have different numbers of alumni, the percentage of graduates who give will be used to determine the winning school, he explained.
"Graduates of veterinary colleges feel very strongly about their alma maters and the Hill's Challenge is designed to increase annual giving percentages," Gaskin said.
In addition to scholarships, veterinary colleges and schools typically use funds given by alumni and friends to purchase equipment for their teaching hospitals and for modernizing other facilities.
One of only 27 in the United States, the MSU veterinary college was established by the Legislature in 1974 and admitted its first class in 1977. Since then, the academic unit has earned a reputation for the pioneering use of computer-based instruction. It now is recognized as a national leader in implementing problem-based learning in the curriculum.
For more information on the alumni challenge, contact Gaskin at (662) 325-3815.
Mississippi State's College of Veterinary Medicine is among five Southeastern Conference universities now at the mid-point of a challenge to determine which has the most loyal alumni supporters.
The schools--MSU, Auburn, Georgia, Louisiana State, and Tennessee--will split $25,000 in scholarship support provided by Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. as part of the Topeka, Kan., company's SEC Veterinary Alumni Challenge.
"The needs of our college, its departments, faculty, staff, and students often exceed the appropriated resources available," said Dr. John Thomson, MSU veterinary dean. "Therefore, we must depend on the generosity of our alumni and friends like Hill's to accomplish our mission."
Keith Gaskin, development director for the veterinary college, said all donations of $25 or more given between July 31 of this year and June 30, 2004, are counted. Since participating universities have different numbers of alumni, the percentage of graduates who give will be used to determine the winning school, he explained.
"Graduates of veterinary colleges feel very strongly about their alma maters and the Hill's Challenge is designed to increase annual giving percentages," Gaskin said.
In addition to scholarships, veterinary colleges and schools typically use funds given by alumni and friends to purchase equipment for their teaching hospitals and for modernizing other facilities.
One of only 27 in the United States, the MSU veterinary college was established by the Legislature in 1974 and admitted its first class in 1977. Since then, the academic unit has earned a reputation for the pioneering use of computer-based instruction. It now is recognized as a national leader in implementing problem-based learning in the curriculum.
For more information on the alumni challenge, contact Gaskin at (662) 325-3815.