CORVALLIS, Ore. – The College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University will graduate an historic class this Sunday, June 10, with its largest number of graduates receiving their professional degrees during the 25th commencement ceremony for the college.

This also is the first class of OSU veterinary medicine students to complete all four years of their education on the Oregon State campus. Students from previous classes had to spend more than a year at Washington State University completing the small animal component of their education.

“This really is a landmark year for the College of Veterinary Medicine,” said Cyril R. Clarke, the new dean of the college who came to OSU from Oklahoma State University. “The recent addition of a small animal clinical service – and the related faculty expertise – has allowed the college to offer a full service veterinary medicine education to students.

“This new small animal capability, combined with our large animal and diagnostic services, allows the college to provide a critical resource for meeting animal – and public health care – needs for the state of Oregon,” he added.

The College of Veterinary Medicine holds a separate commencement program one week before the university-wide ceremony, which is scheduled for June 17 at Reser Stadium. During the college’s ceremony this Sunday, 50 students will take the veterinarian’s oath and receive Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. The ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. (on June 10) in LaSells Stewart Center’s Austin Auditorium. It is free and open to the public.

Edward Migneco, who has been widely featured for his work with the animal welfare organization, Stray Rescue of St. Louis, will give the commencement address. He has been featured in a book by Melinda Roth called “The Man Who Talks to Dogs” for his friendship and work with Randy Grimm, a leading voice among rescue and shelter organizations.

Known throughout the St. Louis area simply as “Dr. Ed,” Migneco is the 2007 recipient of the Hartz Corporation Veterinarian of the Year Award.

OSU President Ed Ray will confer the degrees during the ceremony. Among the guests will be Tony Van Vliet, of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education; Ted Ferrioli, Ben Westlund and Douglas Whitsett of the Oregon State Senate; Deborah Boone and Susan Morgan, of the Oregon State House of Representatives; and Jacqui Neilson, president of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association.

“The expansion of Oregon State’s veterinary medicine program could not have been accomplished without the support of our state legislature,” Clarke said, “and the attendance of so many key legislators at our graduation ceremony is gratifying.

“They will be happy to know that our college continues its process of rapid growth,” Clarke added. “We are adding new faculty to meet the demands of increased students, a complete curriculum, the growth of clinical service programs, more research activity and the ongoing expansion of our large animal and diagnostic facilities.”

Clarke said the college, “having finally come of age,” is poised to undergo significant fundraising and development and become a signature program for the university.

The complete 2007 class of OSU students receiving their DVM degrees, along with their hometown and undergraduate degrees, are listed below:

  • Azalea: Nova M.J. Prince-Kelly, a 2003 graduate of Oregon State University;
  • Brooks: Cheri Boen, a 2003 graduate of Oregon State University;
  • Corvallis: Jaime N. Doerr, a 2002 graduate of Oregon State University; Andrea Louise Sanchez, a 2002 graduate of Vassar College; Daniel L. VanderMay, a 2003 graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno;
  • Diamond: Laura S. Otley, a 2001 graduate of the University of Idaho;
  • Eugene: Kendra K. Below, a 2002 graduate of the University of Oregon; Linda M. Davies, a 1983 and 1997 graduate of the University of Oregon; Brie Taylor, a 2002 graduate of Oregon State University; Robin Waldvogel White, a 2002 graduate of the University of Oregon;
  • Hillsboro: Casey Ann Brookhart, a 2004 graduate of Oregon State University; Melinda Elise Surrency, a 2002 graduate of Portland State University;
  • Hubbard: Claire Elizabeth Varney, a 2003 graduate of George Fox University;
  • Klamath Falls: Sarah Thatcher-Mason, a 2002 graduate of Oregon State University;
  • Medford: Lea Marie Schroeder, a 1996 graduate of the University of Montana;
  • Merrill: Meredith Cheyanne Pierce, a 2000 graduate of Oregon Institute of Technology;
  • Molalla: Trevor Lee Ferguson, a 2003 graduate of Eastern Oregon University;
  • Oregon City: Lauren Drew Martin, a 2003 graduate of Cornell University;
  • Pendleton: Alec Kent Bailey, a 2002 graduate of the University of Portland;
  • Portland: Kristin Gaylene Gerard, a 2003 graduate of Oregon State University; Josephine Ida Gold, a 1997 graduate of Mount Holyoke College; Lisa Michelle Williams, a 1992 graduate of the University of Oregon;
  • Riddle: Kathleen Kelly Linton, a 1997 graduate of Oregon State University;
  • Rogue River: Shawn Richard Thomas, a 2000 graduate of Pacific University;
  • Scio: Sara A. Myers, a 2002 graduate of Oregon State University;
  • Sherwood: Jacob John Crawford, a 2002 graduate of Oregon State University;
  • Stayton: Emily Josephine Bemrose, a 2005 graduate of Oregon State University;
  • The Dalles: Katherine J. Felton, a 1999 graduate of Western Oregon University; Jennifer Staver Hohenlohe, a 1995 graduate of Dartmouth College and 2000 graduate of the University of Washington;
  • Willamina: Belinda Mendenhall, a 2002 graduate of Oregon State University;
  • Yamhill: Nancy Ann Titus, a 2003 graduate of Oregon State University;
  • Alaska

  • Petersburg: Rosanne Marie Gilbert, a 2000 graduate of the University of Alaska Southwest;
  • Arizona

  • Scottsdale: Andrea Lee Swisher, a 2004 graduate of Arizona State University; Tucson: Jodi L. Collins, a 1992 graduate of the University of Arizona;
  • California

  • Escondido: Joanna Michelle Holtz, a 2003 graduate of the University of California, Davis;
  • Garden Grove: Robert Jan Hlavin, a 1999 graduate of the University of Oregon;
  • Hayward: Jasmine C. Barisione, a 2002 graduate of San Francisco State University;
  • Mill Valley: Sara Satya Shaw, a 2000 graduate of Portland State University;
  • Yorba Linda: Nicole M. Tomps, a 2000 graduate of Oregon State University;
  • Connecticut

  • Montville: Jennifer Lynn Yeitz, a 1997 graduate of Boston University.
  • Georgia

  • Lawrenceville: James Robert Welch, a 1997 and 1999 graduate of the University of Georgia;
  • Hawaii

  • Honolulu: Kristy-Ann Correa, a 2002 graduate of Hawaii Pacific University;
  • Indiana

  • Carlisle: Kimberly Ann Phegley, a 1998 graduate of Butler University and a 2002 graduate of Colorado State University;
  • Michigan

  • Traverse City: David A. Rataj II, a 2000 graduate of Hope College;
  • Nebraska

  • Hastings: Katherine Alexandra Earl, a 2000 graduate of Reed College;
  • Nevada

  • Las Vegas: Carrie L. Geraci, a 2001 graduate of San Jose State University;
  • Oklahoma

  • Duncan: Carissa Anne Tran, a 2002 graduate of Oregon State University;
  • South Carolina

  • Anderson: William Daniel Myers Jr., a 2002 and 2003 graduate of the University of Wyoming;
  • Utah

  • Draper: Heather Elizabeth Nemanic, a 2003 graduate of Utah State University.
  • Wyoming

  • Rawlins: Jacob William Rehard, a 2002 graduate of the University of Wyoming.
Source: 

Cyril Clarke,
541-737-2141

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