Three exceptional students have each been awarded $10,000 Merck Animal Health Scholarships by The Foundation for the Horse. Recognized for academic excellence, leadership within their schools and student chapters of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), and ambitious long-term goals in equine practice, the 2025 scholarship recipients are Jake Cannon at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Kayleen Oliver at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Fabiola Ruiz Rosario at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
The awards will be formally presented during the AAEP 71st Annual Convention in Denver on December 7, 2025.
Cannon is dedicated to advancing equine medicine, planning to complete a mentorship-focused internship and internal medicine residency as he works toward establishing a private practice specializing in internal and sports medicine. Actively involved in professional development through events and externships, Cannon was also selected as the first student trustee in more than a decade to serve on the Texas Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinary Political Action Committee Board.
Oliver is pursuing a career in equine veterinary medicine, focusing on sports medicine and reproduction. Through internships, externships, and serving as a peer instructor in a simulation-based education program that taught her surgery and imaging techniques, Oliver has gained valuable hands-on experience and leadership skills. Dedicated to fostering inclusivity in animal science, Oliver has mentored youth in 4-H and served as a graduate teaching assistant.
Ruiz Rosario is pursuing a career in equine sports medicine, planning to complete an internship and residency to become a board-certified specialist and contribute to research in the field. As president of the student chapter of the AAEP at NC State, she fosters inclusivity, organizes hands-on labs and speaker panels, and engages the community to inspire future veterinarians.
The Merck Animal Health Scholarships Program was established in 2015 by The Foundation for the Horse to support exemplary third-year veterinary students at colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States, Canada and the West Indies. Students apply during their second or third year of veterinary school and must demonstrate the endorsement of AAEP members and clinical instructors.
Dr. Bryant Craig, director of Merck Animal Health Equine Business, praised the scholarship recipients as key contributors to the future of equine care and welfare. He emphasized Merck Animal Health’s confidence in their leadership abilities to advance the organization’s mission of promoting healthier animals through scientific innovation.
About Merck Animal Health
At Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: we use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business of Merck.
Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners, and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability, and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being, and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
About The Foundation for the Horse
Established in 1994, The Foundation for the Horse is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization transforming the lives of horses through equine veterinary education and scholarships, equine medical research, natural disaster relief, and support for working equids and horses in need around the world. As the charitable arm of the AAEP, The Foundation is governed and stewarded by leading equine veterinarians and industry stakeholders. The Foundation awards more than $1 million annually in scholarships, grants, and program support to help horses worldwide. To learn more, visit foundationforthehorse.org.
