The University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine held its second Commencement ceremony on Aug. 22, awarding Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees to 108 students.
Speaking from the Centennial Hall stage, college dean Julie Funk told guests that the ceremony was not only the culmination of three years of hard work, but a moment to celebrate the students' accomplishments alongside families, friends and mentors.
"As the second graduating class of our program, you embody the result of years of hard work, dedication and passion," Funk said. "On behalf of the faculty and staff, I want to express how incredibly proud we are of your accomplishments. Many of you have dreamt of this day for a long time, and we are profoundly grateful to share this milestone with you and our community."
The state's first and only public veterinary medicine program, the college opened its doors in 2020 and graduated its inaugural class last summer. The college's curriculum is designed for students to earn their degree in three years, whereas most veterinary medicine programs in the United States require students to study and train at least four years. The college also uses an active learning approach that focuses on providing hands-on experiences with live animals as early as possible, and partners with veterinary clinics in Arizona and across the country to provide third-year students the opportunity to hone their skills in real-world situations.
Reflecting on her three years at the college, student speaker Brittney Skopek said her fellow graduates' unique journeys were filled with a variety of experiences – all of which shaped them into talented "day-one-ready veterinarians."
"We truly have the best job in the world," Skopek said in her speech. "We are the voices for the ones who can't speak. We are nutritionists, radiologists, dentists, surgeons, pharmacists, grievance counselors, business owners and so much more. Some may say that veterinarians aren't 'real doctors,' but we all know we're not regular doctors – we're the cool doctors. We don't just treat animals; we also treat the humans that care for them."