2024 AVMA Animal Welfare Assessment Contest winners announced

(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) December 9, 2024-The Fall 2024 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Animal Welfare Assessment Contest (AWJAC) took place recently at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, with more than 270 registrants representing 27 universities from across North America and Europe completing in-person assessments of the welfare of animals in a variety of settings.

Participants included undergraduates, veterinary students, graduate students and AVMA member veterinarians, who were provided a structured opportunity to practice their assessment skills and present their findings to an expert panel of scientists and veterinarians with special expertise in animal welfare. Species covered in the 2024 contest scenarios included lactating dairy cows, laboratory frogs (xenopus laevis), African penguins in a zoo, and dogs in a commercial breeding environment.

The event featured a keynote address by Dr. Suzanne Millman professor of animal behavior and welfare at Iowa State University. Dr. Millman, a recognized leader in animal welfare research and policy, discussed advancements in animal care standards across swine, dairy and poultry systems. This year's keynote was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Angela Baysinger of Merck Animal Health, a longstanding supporter of the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest, who passed away earlier this year.

The expert panel for this year included: Drs. Angela Wilson, Jennifer Walker, Brandon Treichler, Heather Neave, Blythe Philips, Marko Horb, Judith Stella, Kathy Campitelli, Carlo Siracusa, Stephanie Allard, Jen-Yun Chou and Carly O'Malley.

Results from this year's event follow:

Interactive Assessment Top Placing Individual, Undergraduate Junior Division

Alexis Steffens, Iowa State University

Interactive Assessment Top Placing Team, Undergraduate Junior Division

University of Vermont

Individual Winners, Undergraduate Junior Division

1st place: Sydney Anglin, University of Tennessee, Team 2
2nd place: Ava Swenson, University of Illinois
3rd place: James Wheeler, Texas A&M, Team Hullabaloo
4th place: Alexis Steffens, Iowa State University
5th place: McKinley Slover, Texas A&M, Team Hullabaloo

Team Winners, Undergraduate Junior Division

1st place: Texas A&M, Team Hullabaloo
2nd place: University of Vermont, Team 1
3rd place: Texas A&M, Team Howdy
4th place: Texas A&M, Team Whoop
5th place: Aims Community College, Team 1

Interactive Assessment Top Placing Individual, Undergraduate Senior Division

Julia Greenlee, Iowa State University

Interactive Assessment Top Placing Team, Undergraduate Senior Division

University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Team Red

Individual Winners, Undergraduate Senior Division

1st place: Brooke Casey, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Team Red
2nd place: Aditri Singh, Rutgers University
3rd place: Alli Matzek, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Team Red
4th place: Grace Regier, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
5th place: Sophia Yabut, Michigan State University

Team Winners, Undergraduate Senior Division

1st place: University of Wisconsin-River Falls
2nd place: Colorado State University
3rd place: Purdue University
4th place: University of Minnesota
5th place: Rutgers University

Interactive Assessment Top Placing Individual, Veterinary Student Division

Anna Schilling, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

Interactive Assessment Top Placing Team, Veterinary Student Division

Atlantic Veterinary College, Team 1

Individual Winners, Veterinary Student Division

1st place: Shyanne Hall, University of Minnesota, Team Gold
2nd place: Finnerel Schaeffer, University of Minnesota, Team Maroon
3rd place: Anna Mueller, University of Minnesota, Team Maroon
4th place: Katie Davis, University of Minnesota, Team Gold
5th place: Mo Usavage, University of Minnesota, Team Gold

Team Winners, Veterinary Student Division

1st place: Atlantic Veterinary College, Team 2
2nd place: Ontario Veterinary College
3rd place: Atlantic Veterinary College, Team 1
4th place: University of Minnesota, Team Maroon
5th place: University of Minnesota, Team Gold

Interactive Assessment Top Placing Individual, Graduate Student Division

Heidi Rinehart, University of Illinois

Interactive Assessment Top Placing Team, Graduate Student Division

University of Guelph

Individual Winners, Graduate Division

1st place: Madeline Winans, The Ohio State University
2nd place: Hayley Sutherland, Purdue University
3rd place: Anna Nicklas, University of Guelph
4th place: Lyndsay Ritzler, The Ohio State University
5th place: Courtney Archer, University of Minnesota

Team Winners, Graduate Division

1st place: University of Guelph
2nd place: Purdue University, Team Gold
3rd place: The Ohio State University
4th place: Purdue University, Team Boilermaker Special
5th place: Michigan State University

"After attending this year's Animal Welfare Assessment Contest, I have come away deeply impressed by the dedication and expertise demonstrated by all participants this year, and encouraged about the future state of animal welfare in veterinary medicine," said AVMA President Dr. Sandra Faeh. "Their ability to assess and navigate real-world animal welfare scenarios is not only a testament to their education but also a promising indicator of the future of veterinary medicine. As we continue to face complex challenges in animal health and welfare, events like this play a crucial role in preparing the next generation of veterinary professionals to lead with knowledge and compassion."

The Animal Welfare Assessment Contest was founded at Michigan State University in 2001 as the Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest (AWJAC) and was modeled after traditional livestock, horse and meat judging competitions. Funded in part through an educational grant from Merck Animal Health, today's Animal Welfare Assessment Contest brings students together from across the United States and internationally.

To learn more about the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest, visit AWJAC.org.

For more information, contact Michael San Filippo, AVMA senior media relations manager, at 847-732-6194 (cell/text) or msanfilippoavma[dot] org(msanfilippo[at]avma[dot]org).

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