Long Island University announced on Thursday that two lucky African American students will get a significant discount on their veterinary school tuition, as the school has established a brand-new scholarship program in honor of Black History Month.
The “Brady Hunter Scholarship Fund” will provide 50% of the normal tuition at LIU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and will be available to African American students with financial need from the five boroughs, the school said.
The new scholarships are made possible in coordination with Mayor Eric Adams’ office, and will be funded by the Brady Hunter Foundation — an animal rights organization dedicated towards ending animal cruelty.
“New York City’s rich diversity should be reflected across every sector and industry, including veterinary medicine,” Adams said. “As we close Black History Month, I applaud The Brady Hunter Foundation for their efforts to help give African American students the ability to turn their career aspirations into a reality.”
The first recipient of the scholarship is Shania Allison, who is a first-year student from Queens. She will see her tuition lowered as a result of the grant for the remainder of her studies.
“One of my goals as a veterinarian is to help bring diversity to the practice. Often others in my community are unable to envision themselves as a veterinarian due to the scarcity of veterinarians who look like them,” said Allison. “By illustrating to my community this dream is possible it may encourage more people to come on board.”
Meanwhile, a second scholarship winner will be determined by the Brady Hunter Foundation and LIU, which will select the winner in coordination with Mayor Adams.
“The field of veterinary medicine faces a significant lack of diversity in the profession today, with limited opportunities for African American students,” said Josh Fox, the founder of The Brady Hunter Foundation. “Our scholarships will aid in empowering African American students in New York City and bring their passion and talent into animal health and welfare.”
Dr. Kimberly R. Cline, the president of LIU, hailed the scholarship as a way to promote equity in education, as well as help train the next generation of veterinarians.
“Long Island University’s College of Veterinary Medicine – which will graduate its first four-year class this Spring – was established to meet a dire and growing need for veterinarians, both regionally and nationally,” said Cline. “As one of only four veterinary schools in the entire Northeast, we are dedicated to providing students the clinical and research experiences that will launch their careers, and thanks to The Brady Hunter Foundation, these scholarships will help expand those opportunities for all.”
Read more: Relief for NYC Co-ops and Condos Facing Climate Law
