Future Leaders of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences 2020 Scholarship Winners – Vetericyn

At Vetericyn, our goal is to improve the wellness of animals in all walks of life. This includes helping those who share these values and are looking for a career in animal health and agriculture. When it comes to continuing to shape animal healthcare, community, and wellness we know that it takes shaping the future generations of industry leaders to continue to positively impact the animal wellness industry.

That is why each year we are happy to award an annual Future Leaders of Agricultural and Veterinary Science Scholarship to two high school graduates who intend on pursuing a higher education in the fields of agriculture, animal health and veterinary sciences. This year, our team at Vetericyn was able to select and reward two remarkable individuals from a talented pool of applicants. Our scholarship program proudly bestows two 2020 scholarships, with one awarding $2,000 and the other awarding $1,000. 

The Winners

With careful consideration (and a lot of internal back and forth thanks to so many great entries), our team at Vetericyn has selected two standout winners! We are proud to announce that this year’s scholarship award winners are Elizabeth Hodges and Danika Gordon. 

Elizabeth Hodges

Graduating as Valedictorian of Johnson-Brock Public School, Elizabeth is no stranger to educational success as she maintained a 4.0 GPA and has been an Honor Roll Student with Distinction all four years of school. President of the JB FFA, and president of TimberCreek 4-H club, she is an avid part of youth agricultural groups. All while staying active in softball, basketball, powerlifting and track, Elizabeth is a strong advocate for work ethic and drive. 

She has grown up in Nebraska and works on her family’s Farrow To Finish Purebred Berkshire Hog Farm, she has strongly been a voice for agriculture in her area by leading as a True Blue Spokesperson for the Nebraska FFA Foundation and a Student Writer for the Midwest Messenger. It is no surprise that Elizabeth plan’s to attend UNL majoring in Agriculture Communications with a minor in Food Science. It is Vetericyn’s honor to be a part of Elizabeth’s future. 

Danika Gordon 

A graduate from Sturgis Brown High School in Sturgis, South Dakota, Danika Gordon is a strong leader in her local agriculture groups and has an array of academic accomplishments. She is active in student council, FFA, journalism clubs, and her local youth leadership team, while also holding a 10 year member spot in her 4H club. Danika found her talents in meat goat competition where she has competed on state and national levels. 

Earning several accomplishments in national honors public speaking as well as range and livestock judging. Danika has earned top honors in the Social Science Division of the National FFA Agriscience Fair in 2018 and 2019. She even had the opportunity to author three inspirational children’s books. Danika plans on furthering her education at South Dakota State University majoring in Agriculture Business and Human Resource Management. It is with great joy that we at Vetericyn are able to support Danika and her future in agriculture.

The Future of Animal Healthcare

If you are a soon-to-be high school graduate and are interested in pursuing a career in agricultural or veterinary medicine, Vetericyn is ready to support you! We are accepting applications for the 2021 Future Leaders of Agriculture & Veterinary Sciences Scholarship. If this is a path you are passionate about and interested in exploring, apply now!