AVMA alliance invests in future with new student program

Editor's note: please read the below press release on how EACH vet school's SCAVMA will be receiving up tp $7,000 from the AVMA and SAVMA! In this time of decreased funding, we at SAVMA are so excited be able to give back to our members in this way.

(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) September 26, 2013—The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the AVMA Professional Liability Insurance Trust (PLIT), and the Student AVMA (SAVMA) are launching a two-year pilot program to help fund local student chapter activities. The new pilot program—ALL for Students (ALL standing for Achieving, Leading and Learning)—will provide up to $7,000 annually for activities at each student chapter. First-year payments of $7,000 were distributed to student leaders during the Student Chapters of the AVMA (SCAVMA) Leadership Conference at AVMA Headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill. on Sept. 20.

“The students who make up SAVMA are absolutely essential in shaping the future of the profession and this association. It would be impossible to find a more worthy cause in which to invest, because today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders and visionaries,” explains Dr. Walter R. Threlfall, vice president of the AVMA. “Unfortunately, during the recent economic downturn, it’s become harder for our student organizations to raise the funding needed to support all of their worthwhile programs and projects. ALL for Students will help ensure each SAVMA organization will be able to continue the activities that provide the foundation for the success of their members.”

ALL for Students is supported this year by AVMA and the AVMA PLIT, which each contributed $100,000 to the program, and SAVMA, which committed $33,000.

“ALL for Students provides a unified message of support to our student members. This financial contribution will go toward developing student leadership skills, community outreach events and other programs. These programs will help make them better veterinarians and more successful leaders,” explains Dr. Janet D. Donlin, CEO of AVMA PLIT.

In addition to the funding, the AVMA will provide guidelines on the most effective ways that each student organization might use this financial support. This may include a specific example of a successful program already being developed and implemented by another student chapter that works well within the ALL for Students mission.

SAVMA programs that will be supported with ALL for Students funding include events focused on community outreach, leadership training, professional development, and wellness.

Leaders of the student organizations must submit annual reports detailing how the funding is spent. The two-year pilot program could be extended into a multi-year program after an evaluation of its success.

For more information about the AVMA, please visit www.avma.org.