The SVME WALTHAM Student Essay Award

The Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics (SVME) is dedicated to increasing dialogue and understanding of ethical values and issues facing the veterinary profession. In order to foster and encourage future veterinarians to develop their interest and understanding of veterinary ethics, the SVME sponsors an annual essay contest.

The annual SVME WALTHAM student essay contest has generated increasing student interest and an increase in submissions every year since its inception. Through a generous donation from the WALTHAM Center for Pet Nutrition, the winning essay writer receives a generous cash reward and a travel expense stipend to attend the 2010 AVMA conference and SVME plenary session.

2010 Essay Award Theme

When Does Veterinary Care Become Financially

and Medically Excessive?

In your response, consider and discuss the medical, ethical, legal, financial
and social aspects of this question. The veterinarians role in guiding the client through these issues should be a major focus of the essay.

The winning essay will be published in the SVME Newsletter and selected essays of significant merit may be posted on the SVME web site.

Award Candidates:

Students must be currently enrolled in a veterinary school.

Instructions for Essay Submission:

Essays must be written in English.
Essays must be no longer than 3000 words excluding name, title and references.
Essays must be formatted as follows:

Times New Roman 12 pt font
Justify left, page margins set at 1 inch
Number references consecutively in the order that they appear in the text

Essays must be submitted to the Awards Committee Chair electronically as an email attachment (Word document preferred) or by clicking here.
Essay submission must include the author's name, address, veterinary school affiliation, year level, telephone number and email address in the title page of the essay document.
Submission by multiple authors are not permitted.
Submissions must include in the email subject line: "SVME Essay Award"
Submissions must be received no later than March 30, 2010.

Criteria for Selection:

Essays will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Students are encouraged to develop their own perspective on the topic through sound and compelling arguments toward a certain position (pro or con). However, students must identify and address notable opposing views clearly and explicitly.
Style and clarity
Formatting, spelling, grammar and punctuation
Inclusion of relevant research, including but not limited to: relevant ethical codes, principles and legislation; empirical ethical research; seminal normative articles.

Award:

The recipient of the award will receive a certificate of recognition, a cash prize of $ 1000.00 (US), publication of his/her essay in the Summer edition of the SVME Newsletter, and up to $1000 for travel and expenses to attend the 2010 AVMA conference and SVME plenary session.

The successful candidate will be notified via email or in writing no later than May 10, 2010.

2010 Award Committee Chair: Dr. Gary Block, gbylc@aol.com.

* An award may not be offered annually if the Awards Committee does not receive any entries of sufficient merit.

Past Essay Award Winners:

2009 Winner: Ms. Megan (Watland) Schommer

Ms. Watland, a student at the College of Veterinary Medicine at University of Minnesota, was awarded the 2009 SVME Student Essay Award. Her essay will be published in Volume One, Issue One of the Journal of Animal Ethics in 2011.

Ms. Watland received a certificate of recognition, $1000.00 cash prize and up to $1000 for travel and expenses to attend the 2009 AVMA conference and SVME plenary session. The SVME received over 30 essay submissions from students in North America.

2008: Ms. Danielle Irving

Ms. Irving, a student at the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University, was awarded the 2008 SVME Student Essay Award for her essay "The Choice to Clone". Ms. Irving received a certificate of recognition, $1000.00 cash prize and up to $1000 for travel and expenses to attend the 2008 AVMA conference and SVME plenary session. The SVME received over 30 essay submissions from students in North America.

2007: Ms. Christine Ehlers

Ms. Ehlers, a student at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University, was awarded the 2007 SVME Student Essay Award. Ms. Ehlers received a certificate of recognition and a $ 500.00 cash prize. The SVME received over 30 essay submissions from students in North America.

2006: Ms. Gwendolen Reyes-Illg

Ms. Reyes-Illg, a sophomore attending the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida, was awarded the first SVME Student Essay Award for her outstanding essay entitled 'Animals in Veterinary Medical Education: Increasing Coherence between Principles and Practice’.

She also earned a B.S. in Zoology in 2002 from the same school. In addition to publication of her essay in the May issue of the SVME Newsletter, Ms. Reyes-Illg received a certificate of recognition and a $ 500.00 cash prize. The SVME received over 100 essay submissions from students in North America and the United Kingdom.

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