Winner named in 2011 Inspiration in Action contest

Heska Corporation,  a leading provider of veterinary diagnostic and specialty products, has announced that, based on total votes received, the Belize Wildlife & Referral Center (BWRC), has been awarded $25,000 as the grand prize winner in the 2011 Inspiration in Action contest.

The contest was designed to help bring to life inspired veterinary projects around the world. The finalists included Belize Wildlife & Referral Center; Inspiring Future Leaders in Veterinary Science; Project V.E.T.S.; Project S.T.R.A.Y. (Stray Training and Rehabilitation by Area Youths); and Veterinarians without Borders/Veterinaires sans Frontieres (VWB/VSF). (You can read more about them in this post.)

In addition to providing medical services, the BWRC will use the prize money to expand its services to the country of Belize and deploy mobile medical equipment for use in the field.  The BWRC also plans to serve the community as an educational facility for veterinary professionals who desire to learn about wildlife medicine, wildlife conflict resolution, and the importance of wildlife conservation.  Learn more about this project at: http://www.wildlifebelize.com/.

Heska also awarded a second place prize of $5,000 to an innovative veterinary clinic in Lexington, Kentucky.  The Locust Trace Veterinary Clinic, dedicated to inspiring and equipping high school students, have just opened this first-of-its-kind, full-service animal hospital right on the campus of the Fayette County School’s Locust Trace AgriScience Center.  This state-of-the-art facility allows high school students to observe and assist as veterinarians provide care for pets, horses and food animals. Serving as a prototype to be implemented in other communities, this program encourages other school districts around the nation to explore ways they can begin to utilize these ideas to advance the veterinary profession.  Prize money from the Inspiration in Action contest will be used to provide outstanding students with scholarships to pursue the next step of their education and explore a career in veterinary medicine.  Learn more at: http://locusttracevet.com.

Heska will honor this year’s winners at a reception on January 16, 2012 during the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, FL. Learn more about this annual contest to support and inspire the field of veterinary medicine at www.heska.com/action.