UMaine Grads Headed to Veterinary Schools in U.S., Scotland and Canada
The School of Food and Agriculture’s Animal and Veterinary Sciences Program traditionally has a high acceptance rate of student applicants for veterinary schools. This year, that acceptance rate is nearly 90 percent, with seven students graduating and heading to veterinary schools nationwide, and in Scotland and Canada:
Brian Blanchard, Thorndike, Maine, Atlantic Veterinary College, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Rachel Chase, Warren, Maine, Ohio State University
Elena Doucette, Cumberland, Maine, University of Glasgow, Scotland
Amy Fish, Mountville, Pennsylvania, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Taryn Haller, Mystic, Connecticut, University of California, Davis
Jeffery Vigue Jr., Whitefield, Maine, Virginia-Maryland Regional Veterinary College
Ariana Wadsworth, Thomaston, Maine, Oregon State University
Two other Animal and Veterinary Sciences Program students from the Class of 2014 applied this year for veterinary school and were accepted. Kristyn Souliere of Saco, Maine, is headed to Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Bethany van Gorder of West Tremont, Maine, is going to the University of Glasgow.
Brian Blanchard grew up on a small dairy farm in Thorndike, Maine, that converted to standardbred racehorses in 2001. He currently drives and trains horses competitively in Maine and will continue that work in Prince Edward Island while earning his veterinary degree.
Elena Doucette, who grew up in Cumberland, Maine, embarked on a four-month mission trip with Heifer International after high school, gaining experience with livestock husbandry that inspired her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
Rachel Chase is an honors student from Warren, Maine. Her family raised dairy goats and broilers and laying hens, and she owns a horse.
Amy Fish, Taryn Haller, and Ariana Wadsworth also are honors students. Honors student Jeff Vigue grew up on a beef farm in Whitefield, Maine, and worked at several local dairies.