Local Veterinary Students Awarded Prestigious Diversity Scholarships

Christopher Ibarra Gervacio and Regina Meeks, two third-year veterinary students, have received diversity leadership scholarships from the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges. Ibarra Gervacio was awarded the Chewy Veterinary Leaders Program scholarship, worth $20,000, for his leadership potential and efforts to represent underserved communities. This scholarship is given to only 15 students across the country, recognizing emerging leaders in the veterinary field.

Regina Meeks received the Merck Animal Health Diversity Leadership Scholarship, which includes an $8,000 grant. She was honored for her commitment to increasing diversity and inclusion in the veterinary profession. Meeks, who is of Black and Taiwanese descent, has actively worked towards fostering positive change in the field. She values the recognition of her efforts and stresses the importance of diversity in veterinary medicine.

According to 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there is a significant racial disparity in the U.S. veterinary profession, with white veterinarians comprising nearly 90% of the field. The scholarships awarded to Ibarra Gervacio and Meeks aim to help correct these imbalances.

Both students are involved in diversity initiatives at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Since 2020, the college has focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, led by Dean Dr. Dori Borjesson and Maurice Cottman, the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Ibarra Gervacio and Meeks contribute to the college’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, working on projects to make the field more inclusive.

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