Merck Animal Health supports next generation of veterinarians with $90,000 in scholarships

MINNEAPOLIS — Merck Animal Health announced it has awarded $90,000 in scholarships to nine future bovine veterinarians in partnership with the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Foundation.

Recipients of the Merck Animal Health Bovine Veterinary Student Recognition Award were selected based on their academic achievements, career goals, work experience and interest in veterinary medicine.

The scholarships were recently awarded at the 2026 AABP Annual Conference in Minneapolis.

The 2026 scholarship recipients, each receiving $10,000, include:

• Caroline Berge, University of Wisconsin, was raised on her family’s dairy farm in Valders, Wisconsin. She plans to return to rural Wisconsin to practice primarily bovine medicine, providing herd health, reproductive and preventive care services to dairy and beef producers.

• Faith Bergman, The Ohio State University, is a native of Minster, Ohio, with interests in dairy production medicine, calf health, surgery and advanced reproductive technologies. She plans to enter bovine practice in the Midwest.

• Luke Daniels, Texas Tech University, is from Dalhart, Texas, where he grew up in his family’s veterinary practice and helped manage registered Hereford cattle. He plans to use his practical livestock background to serve the cattle industry in practice.

• Derrick Goldammer, Kansas State University, was raised in Mitchell, South Dakota, around cattle and agriculture. After graduation, he plans to return to Dimock, South Dakota, to practice at Sweetgrass Veterinary Services, an almost cattle-exclusive practice.

• Jillian Grantz, Purdue University, grew up in Floyds Knobs, Indiana, and developed her interest in agriculture through work at the university dairy farm. She plans to join a progressive dairy practice focused on serving a diverse population of dairy producers.

• Alexandria Henderson, Cornell University, grew up in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, participated in 4-H and later managed a 500-head dairy in Vermont. She plans to practice as a large animal, bovine-oriented veterinarian in New England.

• Jonathon Macmillan, Atlantic Veterinary College, is from Nova Scotia, Canada, where he developed a passion for dairy through 4-H and work on local dairy farms. He plans to pursue bovine practice with a focus on dairy medicine.

• Anna Spoth, Texas A&M University, is originally from Buffalo, New York, and grew up on her family’s agritourism farm. She plans to enter private practice with a focus primarily on dairy medicine.

• Alex Webster, Iowa State University, grew up on a family farm in rural northeast Iowa and worked as a registered veterinary technician in a rural mixed animal practice. She plans to join a rural southwest Iowa mixed animal practice and work predominantly with beef cattle.

“Merck Animal Health is proud to help advance the next generation of bovine veterinarians who will play an important role in supporting animal health, welfare and productivity,” said Dave Sjeklocha, technical services manager at Merck Animal Health and past president of the AABP board of directors.

“These students have demonstrated the commitment and skills needed to make a meaningful impact in bovine practice and across the cattle industry.”

“Through this ongoing partnership with Merck Animal Health, the AABP Foundation is helping prepare talented veterinary students for careers in bovine medicine,” said Fred Gingrich II, executive director of AABP.

“We congratulate this year’s scholars and look forward to seeing the difference they will make for the cattle industry and the veterinary profession.”

Founded in 1965, AABP is an international association of more than 5,000 veterinarians and veterinary students who serve as leaders in cattle health, welfare and productivity.