The Charlotte Bacon Veterinary Education Scholarship

Charlotte dreamed of being a veterinarian. Although we are heartbroken that we will never see her wear a white lab coat, it feels right to help others achieve their own dreams of veterinary school. In the winter of 2013, North Carolina State established the Charlotte Bacon Veterinary Education Scholarship.

This scholarship is available to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students at North Caroline State College of Veterinary Medicine who are in their first through third year of study, interested in companion animal or equine medicine, and have a record of service to children in an educational or community setting.

Since it’s inception the scholarship has been awarded to sixteen recipients.

Thank you NC State College of Veterinary Medicine & Veterinary Hospital for helping us honor Charlotte. If you are a student interested in applying for this scholarship, please visit NC State College of Veterinary Medicine’s costs page and refer to the “Scholarships” section for more information.

If you would like to make a contribution to Charlotte’s scholarship, please make a tax-deductible donation to the Charlotte Helen Bacon Foundation, indicating that you would like it used for this purpose.

Recipients of The Charlotte Bacon Veterinary Education Scholarship

Ellie Cohn and Angelia Laudermilch (2021-2022)

Ellie’s love for animals has contributed to her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian. Prior to veterinary school, Ellie worked as a veterinary technician in her community. Through her work, she enjoys sharing her passion for animals, science and animals with other young people and looks forward to pursuing her dreams at veterinary school.  Ellie shared, “Like Charlotte, I have always had a passion for helping animals…  This scholarship has allowed me to make my dream of becoming a veterinarian a reality, and I will forever be grateful for your generosity.”

Angelia is in veterinary school pursuing a career in mixed animal veterinary medicine. She is particularly interested in the differing relationships mixed animal medicine will allow her to have with people. Angelia feels that by caring for their animals, she is able to care for people.  Angelia expressed gratitude for the scholarship, “This scholarship has allowed me more flexibility throughout the semester and into the summer so I am able to get more experience. I would like to go to the Dominican Republic this summer to work with dairy producers, an opportunity I would not be able to consider without your scholarship.”

 

Erica Evans and Andrew Kurowski (2019-2020)

Erica is from Indiana and graduated from the University of Notre Dame. She is interested in food animal medicine the goal of either owning a large animal practice or working for an agricultural company as a resident veterinarian. She was a competitive swimmer for 15 years and the captain of ND’s Women’s Water Polo Team.

Andrew is from Virginia and graduated from Virginia Tech. He is interested in small animal medicine with a goal of becoming board certified in some area of surgery. He is a certified personal trainer. Andrew shared, “Charlotte reminds me a bit of myself as a kid -a curious ball of energy with a knack for mischief/ scrapes and scratches, and “sorry mom/dad” moments. Knowing I have the support from you, complete strangers to me, is comforting and motivating. I am humbled to walk alongside the memory of Charlotte and will keep her energetic spirit in my thoughts as I embark on this journey.”

 

 

Mallory Brown & Haley Pratt (2018-2019)

Haley shared, “Upon entering veterinary school, I can appreciate the enormous amount of support that helped me reach this point.  Like Charlotte, I was once a dog-loving little kid who had to be reminded to, ‘Ask first before petting strangers dogs.’ As I grew up I had teachers, mentors and family that helped me shape that passion into a career in veterinary medicine.  Now I will have the chance to do the same for other young people, keeping Charlotte in my thoughts as I do so.”

Mallory expressed her gratitude as well in the following, “I have wanted to be a veterinarian since I was four years old.  For over a decade, I have shadowed multiple vets in a myriad of fields, and my childhood dream has turned into a passion”.  She continues, “it is daunting to calculate the amount of debt my education will incur, however, your generosity will help ease that burden.  Thank you so much for supporting me in pursuing my dream.”

 

Janelle Wiser (2017-2018)

Update: Dr. Janelle Wiser is working as a Supervisory Public Health Veterinary for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in East Bend, NC.

Janelle shared her gratitude with NC State Veterinary News, “There have been several times where it’s felt like it was going to be a nonstop up hill battle to make it through school and I had nearly given up. It’s a huge motivating factor just knowing that people care and are invested in my education,” she said.  “I have no doubt that I wouldn’t have made it to where I am today without the help of generous donors who have taken a chance on me and made my education possible. I am so thankful for the Bacon family and their kindness has been a blessing to me. I look forward to the day when I am able to pay their generosity forward and make a difference for the next generation of young professionals.”

 

Micah Stockwell-Goering (2017-2018)

Update: Dr. Micah Stockwell-Goering is working as a small animal practitioner at Pantops Veterinary Hospital in Charlottesville, VA.

Micah told of her deep appreciation for the scholarship, saying “it makes such a difference when you know that someone else has believed in you and is rooting for you to succeed. It’s very motivating. Knowing the backstory behind the scholarship was unexpected and very moving, as well. To think this could be possible because someone couldn’t have an opportunity to pursue this dream … I can’t say that I didn’t cry,” Micah said.

 

Kristen Livengood (2016-2017)

Update: Dr. Kirsten Livengood is working as a veterinarian with both small and large animals at Boulevard Animal Hospital in Shelby, NC.

Kristen shared, “When I read Charlotte’s story, it was almost as if time stopped and I forgot about everything else I had to do in my day.  I couldn’t stop the tears at the horrific tragedy that claimed her sweet life, and at the same time, I was so moved by the new spirit of hope and love that has been born through Newtown Kindness.  I found myself caught up thinking about how my dream of becoming a veterinarian began when I was a little girl with my Labrador retriever, just as Charlotte’s did.  I am so very humbled at the thought that though Charlotte won’t get to attend vet school someday, she is enabling me to take steps along this journey.  I cannot adequately express my gratitude to her, and to you, but I do pray that a compassion and kindness like Charlotte’s will pervade all of my future encounters with animals and people alike.  In this way, may her story unfold along with mine in ‘thinking kindly, acting boldly’ every day.”

 

Melissa Gargagliano (2014-2015)

Update: After graduation, Dr. Melissa (Gargagliano) Solley worked for Dogwood Acres Veterinary Clinic in Crestview, FL.

Melissa wrote, “I am so honored and pleased to have received this award”. She continues, “Upon learning about Charlotte and the organization made in her honor, I am really just in awe of how amazing it really is to receive this scholarship. In fact, reading about Charlotte, her dreams, and how you came to start this organization has had a very profound impact on my life. I have come to cherish every moment of my life more so than before and I also take time to try and perform acts of kindness towards others.”