College confers degrees at annual commencement ceremony, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Jan Williams, College of Veterinary Medicine, 612-624-6228

College confers veterinary and graduate degrees at annual commencement ceremony

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, (May 25, 2007) – The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine presented graduates with doctor of veterinary medicine degrees and graduate degrees at its 56^th commencement ceremony at Northrop Auditorium on May 5.

Dean Jeffrey S. Klausner presented the opening remarks, commenting that “there is no more exciting time in the life of a university than the day we acknowledge our graduates who are set to launch their careers and to make their mark on society.”

Dr. Leslie Sharkey, associate professor, gave the commencement address, and Melissa Johnson gave the response for the class of 2007, addressing her classmates and reflecting on the past four years of college. Regent Dallas Bohnsack conferred the degrees on the class, and Dr. John Howe, president of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, administered the veterinarian’s oath. Dr. Jack Risdahl, president of the College’s Alumni and Friends Society, welcomed the students into the alumni organization, and congratulatory remarks were made by Dr. Barbara Brandt, assistant vice president for education in the Academic Health Center.

“Whether you choose a career in private or corporate practice, the military, government, environmental protection, public health, food safety, or higher education, you will have a profound influence on the quality of our lives,” said Dean Klausner. “Those who work at the interface of human and animal disease have never been more important and we are proud of preparing the next generation of veterinary health professionals.”

Since the College of Veterinary Medicine’s inception 60 years ago, nearly 4,000 students have received veterinary degrees. In addition to the 91 students who received their D.V.M. degrees at the 2007 commencement ceremony, three students were awarded Ph.D. degrees; six received master of science degrees; and six were awarded D.V.M./M.P.H. degrees.

Recipients of the D.V.M. degree
Barbara Arend
Paul Badeau
Chad Bailey
Ashley Bensfield
Stacy Bethke
Elizabeth Boos
Todd Brokken
Tarin Broksieck
Laura Bruner
Julie Bryngelson
Heidi Buytaert
Margaret Carl
Jenny Clementson
Diane Collette
Sarah Crowe
Heather Damico
Rachel Dayton
Jason Dean 
Theresa DeBlieck
Emily Drake 
Matthew Duff 
Candace Erker 
Leyla Fatourechi   
Pamela Fettig
Benjamin Galbreath
Jennifer Gale
Stephanie Goettsch
Nicole Grabowski
Kelly Griffin
Leah Gustafson
Felicia Haberfield
Heather Handley
Brian Hardy
Katie Haupt
Julia Hecking
Nicole Heinrich
Christine Hoang
Jenny Hoven
Gloria Hu
Janice Husman
Melissa Johnson
Heidi Johnson
Brandi Johnson
Carrie Kavanagh
Kristine Krausser
Heather Kreager
Hollee Kubik
Carl Larson
Marie Louderback
Susan Lowum
Karin Lupo
Richard Magliula
Lehua Maloney
Mary McCarl
Erika Mueller
Amanda Murdock
Jennifer Nehring
Crystal Neumann
Shana Owen
Cynthia Panek
Kristel Pawlowski
Erica Peck
Kevin Peck
Katherine Peterson
Matthew Pike
Cassandra Powell
Jeffrey Reed
Rebecca Ripple
Nathan Rose
Jolaine Roycewicz
Amanda Rudser
Katrina Schimmel
Jeffrey Schulman
Jessica Schuster
Stacey Schwabenlander
Dana Seibel
Alani Selland
Jennifer Selvig
Molly Shepard
Jenna Sing
Heather Swan
Sarah Swenson
Beth Thompson
Jamie Torres
Lauren Utley
Jay Volinski
Jennifer Watson
Sara Wefel
Jennifer Wicklund
Sarah Wilcox
Ginger Zieman

Recipients of the Ph.D. degree
Cleverson De Souza
Bit Na Kang
Jin Liu

Recipients of the master of science degree
Josephine S. Gnanandarajah
Geoffrey Newhall Hirsch
Juan Li
Jessica L. Meehan
Jennifer Ann Schurrer
Hisako Tsutsumi

Recipients of the D.V.M./M.P.H. degree
Margaret Carl
Diane Collette
Sarah Crowe
Theresa de Blieck
Stacy Schwabenlander
Heather Swan

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The College of Veterinary Medicine improves the health and well-being of animals and people by providing high-quality veterinary training, conducting leading-edge research, and delivering innovative veterinary services.