Second- and third-year veterinary students pursuing a career in equine medicine are encouraged to apply for one of five $5,000 scholarships being awarded through the newly created Merck Animal Health/American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation Scholarship Program.

The scholarship program is open to AAEP student members who are active within any of the AAEP’s 40 student chapters at colleges of veterinary medicine in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean. Each chapter can submit one candidate to compete for these five scholarships.

Scholarship recipients will be selected based on a combination of academic standing, leadership roles, and dedication to a career in equine healthcare. Some consideration also will be given to financial need.

“Through this scholarship program, we are reinforcing our longstanding commitment to education, personal development, and the science of healthier animals,” said Brett Whitehead, equine business unit head for Merck Animal Health. “It also allows us to help support the cost of veterinary education, as well as recognize and celebrate the next generation of leaders. Every year, Merck Animal Health collaborates with numerous educational and veterinary organizations to ensure the advancement of animal health and we are proud to partner with the AAEP Foundation on this initiative