AWARDS
SWVS VISIONARY AWARD
We are pleased to announce that the 2022 Visionary Award winner was James Wright, DVM.
ABOUT THE AWARD
The Southwest Veterinary Symposium Visionary of the Year Award is presented to an individual who is recognized by the profession and is actively engaged in a private, public, or corporate veterinary practice whose contributions elevate the standards and goals of veterinary medicine. Selection criteria are based on contributions to the profession that include veterinary practice, continuing education, publications, public education, and civic activities. Nominations are submitted from the five SWVS partner state VMAs, and the SWVS Awards Committee will select the recipient. The 2023 award will be presented at the President's VIP Reception on Friday evening, September 22, 2023.
nOMINATIONS
Nominations have ended for 2023. If you know of someone for 2024, please fill out the form below.
LTC DANIEL HOLLAND, DVM
MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
We are pleased to announce that the 2022 LTC Daniel Holland, DVM Memorial Scholarship Award winner was Luke Tomaso, DVM
LTC Daniel E. Holland grew up as an Army brat and when his father retired from the artillery corps, they became farmers. Daniel went to OSU, completed ROTC, and became a veterinarian. Veterinarians work with military animals (working dogs, marine mammals, etc.) and also perform health and safety inspections (food, water quality, sanitation etc.).
LTC Holland went to Iraq as part of a Civil Affairs Group that served the 4th Infantry Division. He was the Chief of Public Health. His Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and Master’s of Public Health uniquely qualified him to ensure that the Iraqis he served were getting improved services. He inspected and recommended actions to get Iraqis clean water and sanitary living conditions, making sure that hospitals have medicine and working incubators, etc. Of course, he also made sure that the animals that sustained the Iraqis were healthy.
On May 18th, 2006, LTC Holland, First LT Robert A. Seidel III, SGT Lonnie C. Allen Jr., PFC Nicholas R. Cournoyer, and an Iraqi interpreter were killed by a roadside IED (bomb) near Baghdad while on a humanitarian mission to aid the people of Iraq. Daniel is survived by his wife, Sheryl; one son, Garrett; and one daughter, Rachel of Boerne, TX. On May 31st, the Patriot Guard Riders (from Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and elsewhere) escorted the Holland family to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. After a two-hour funeral service, they escorted Holland's body to Fort Sam Houston in a light rain. LTC Daniel Holland was buried with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP
The annual scholarship covers registration, travel, and lodging to Southwest Veterinary Symposium (SWVS). The scholarship recipient for 2023 will be selected by the Awards Committee and presented the scholarship award at the President’s VIP Reception on Friday evening, September 22, 2023.
NOMINATIONS
Nominations have ended for 2023. If you know of someone for 2024, please fill out the form below.
SWVS vMA SCHOLARSHIP fOR
NEWLY GRADUATED DVM'S
SWVS 2022 SELECTIONS:
- Arkansas: Josh Moffett, DVM
- Louisiana: Allison Poche, DVM
- New Mexico: Elaine Alexander, DVM
- Oklahoma: Carley Long, DVM
- Texas: Kimery Hankins, DVM
SWVS 2021 SELECTIONS:
- Arkansas: Emily Robertson, DVM
- Louisiana: Ashley Allemand Davidson, DVM
- New Mexico: Moriah Heath, DVM
- Oklahoma: Blythe Knickmeyer, DVM
- Texas: Sidney Leidy, DVM
SWVS 2019 SELECTIONS:
- Arkansas: Meghan Sommers, DVM
- Louisiana: Katie Habetz, DVM
- New Mexico: Julie Harris, DVM
- Oklahoma: Shawn Lane, DVM
- Texas: Kelsey Carroll, DVM
SWVS 2018 SELECTIONS:
- Arkansas: Wesley McMullen, DVM
- Louisiana: Abbey Raaphorst, DVM
- New Mexico: Wren Abbott, DVM
- Oklahoma: Devyn Weichel, DVM
- Texas: Caitlin Conner, DVM
SWVS 2017 SELECTIONS:
- Arkansas: Bridger Smithers, DVM
- Louisiana: Margaret Borne, DVM
- New Mexico: Roxanne Benally, DVM
- Oklahoma: Kahla Bolt, DVM
- Texas: Aaron Rode, DVM
SWVS 2016 SELECTIONS:
- Arkansas: Jessica May, DVM
- Louisiana: Rachel Wier, DVM
- New Mexico: Michael Marricle, DVM
- Oklahoma: Tyler Thomas, DVM
- Texas: Clayton Cobb, DVM
SWVS 2015 SELECTIONS:
- Arkansas: Kimberly Wilson, DVM
- New Mexico: Jennifer Rodriguez, DVM
- Oklahoma: Nancy Henslee, DVM
- Texas: Joseph Pulhar, DVM
SWVS 2014 SELECTIONS:
- Arkansas: Emily Hickman, DVM
- Louisiana: Melanie Reed, DVM
- New Mexico: Beth Stowell, DVM
- Oklahoma: Lisa Kilhoffer, DVM
- Texas: Cheryl Knabe, DVM