Seventeen members of the University of Tennessee at Martin’s spring 2021 graduating class have been accepted into veterinary schools, according to Dr. Jason Roberts, professor of animal science and director of the Veterinary Health Technology Program. The group is one of the largest to be accepted from UT Martin.

Nicole King, of Collierville; Sarah Hawk, of Dandridge; Celia Gelpey, of Knoxville; Emily Sutherland, of Hendersonville; Erica Brown, of McEwen; Matthew Katzmarek, of Bruceton; Elizabeth Whitt, of Murfreesboro; Jordan Wilburn, of Leoma; Mary Yarbrough, of Memphis; and Devon Woods, of Escondido, California, will attend the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville.

Katelynn Hacker, of Atoka, will be attending Mississippi State University, and Marissa Parks, of Tomball, Texas, will be attending the University of Florida. Taylor Heathcock, of South Fulton, will begin at the University of Missouri; Kiara Nobbe, of Greensburg, Indiana, is enrolled in Purdue University.

Some students been accepted to study at international universities. Becca Byrd, of Germantown, will be attending the Royal Veterinary College in London. Johnnie Parker, of Newport, will be a student at the University of Melbourne; and Gwen Bracey, of Goodlettsville, is enrolled at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
<blockquote>“The faculty and staff understand what it takes for these students to be successful, and they are passionate about relaying this information to students beginning in their first semester as freshman and continuing that advising and support through graduation,” said Roberts.</blockquote>
“The faculty and staff understand what it takes for these students to be successful, and they are passionate about relaying this information to students beginning in their first semester as freshman and continuing that advising and support through graduation,” said Roberts. “We also have a large teaching and demonstration farm, which includes veterinary facilities where students can gain hands-on experience throughout their undergraduate careers. These experiential learning opportunities, in addition to multiple internship opportunities, really strengthen the applications of these aspiring veterinarians.”

For more information about the UT Martin animal science program and pre-veterinary track, contact Roberts at <a href="mailto:jrober29@utm.edu">jrober29@utm.edu</a> or 731-881-7952.
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