Baton Rouge Community College student Paige Roussel was the recipient of this year’s
Spring 2023 Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) Scholarship Award. Roussel
was one of 32 students in the nation selected to receive the recognition.
“I am both thankful and excited to have received this scholarship,” said Roussel. “The BRCC Veterinary Technician program allowed me to expand my knowledge and Vet Tech skills through its course load, labs, and externships. I am very appreciative of my professors, classmates, coworkers, friends, and family for being there for me through the process.”
The VTNE Scholarship Award is given to a graduating student recognized by their veterinary technology/nursing program faculty who fosters, cultivates, and preserves a culture of leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion and treats everyone with respect and dignity. The scholarship is supported by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), and recipients are awarded a voucher waiving the fee for the VTNE exam. The AAVSB uses the VTNE to evaluate the competency of entry level veterinary technicians and requires a passing score for a veterinary technician to be credentialed.
"We are happy to be able to support our Technicians through this scholarship opportunity,” said Leslie Knachel, President of the AAVSB. “The AASVB is honored to celebrate, recognize, and support the valuable contributions that veterinary technicians provide to the profession of veterinary medicine.”
Roussel will graduate this spring and plans to work at a small animal hospital as a Veterinary Technician. She recalled one of her first experiences with animals was when she worked on a family-owned dairy goat farm at a young age. Roussel has since developed a passion for promoting animal health through vaccination, neutering, proper care, and communication.
BRCC’s VTEC program takes five semesters to complete and is designed to provide students with the clinical knowledge and skills required for a career in veterinary practice or other animal health professions.