by BECKY GOFF
Little Apple Post
MANHATTAN - Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine announced seven students have been chosen for 'The Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas' (VTPRK).
VTPRK is the largest veterinary scholarship program offered by the state of Kansas.
The new recipients are first-year veterinary students including: Chance Kopsa of Beloit; Ryann Allison of Fort Scott; Emily Headrick of Kismet; Milan Black of Pratt; Madalynn Martin of Protection; Kenzie Jones of Rolla; and Caleb Hildebrand of Stafford.
"The Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas helps retain the brightest and best mixed animal veterinary students in Kansas," said Hodes Family Dean Bonnie Rush. "This year, each of these students is a native Kansan who embraces the opportunity to become a rural practitioner in Kansas. Thanks to increased support from the state legislature, we are now able to have seven VTPRK scholars instead of five, providing more veterinarians to serve rural Kansas communities in the future."
Originally passed by the state Legislature in 2006, the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas has provided financial incentive to for veterinary students to work in rural areas of Kansas.
In 2022, the program was expanded based on the success demonstrated by individuals in the program, continuing to increase veterinary care in rural Kansas.
Students are required to work full-time for a veterinary practice in one of the 92 Kansas counties with less than 40,000 residents following the completion of their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.
Students who work in rural Kansas will receive up to $25,000 in student loan forgiveness per year, for qualifying student loans over a period of four years.
Since the beginning of the program, 96% of graduates are completing or have completed their obligation. Graduates who do not complete their service are required to repay the loan.
The funds are reinvested through the addition of students to the program. Ninety-three percent of previous graduates who completed their four-year obligation remain in a qualifying county. Seventy percent remain in the practice and community they entered after graduation.