NC State College of Veterinary Medicine Awards Scholarship Honoring Sandy Hook Student
The North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine has awarded the Charlotte Bacon Veterinary Education Scholarship to Ashley Myers and Crystal Martinez in recognition of their service to children in an educational or community setting.
Myers, a third year veterinary student, worked with New Hanover County Animal Control to develop a rabies education program for elementary school children. Myers was also responsible for planning and operating a Forensics Chemistry Summer Camp at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Martinez, a second year veterinary student, worked as an assistant instructor for Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center in Efland, NC, where she helped pair children with horses and then taught them to groom, saddle, and ride the horses.
Developed with funding from the College of Veterinary Medicine community, the scholarship honors Charlotte Helen Bacon, one of the Sandy Hook Elementary School children who died on Dec. 14, 2012. According to her parents Joel and JoAnn Bacon, six-year-old Charlotte loved animals and wanted to be a veterinarian since age two.
The idea for the scholarship originated with Samantha Parrett, director of business and administrative services for the NC State Veterinary Health Complex.
“I was deeply moved when I learned of Charlotte’s dreams of being a veterinarian,” says Parrett. “We wanted to find a way to honor this dream and felt a scholarship in her name would be appropriate. Individual staff members, students, and faculty started contributing and we had enough initial funds to take the next step.”
Parrett approached Newtown resident Aaron Carlson with the scholarship idea. Carlson, whose daughter was a close friend of Charlotte, was serving as a spokesperson for the Bacon family. He helped create the Newtown Kindness organization and the Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Award which recognizes children doing acts of kindness.
“We learned from Mr. Carlson that Joel Bacon said he and wife would be honored if NC State created a scholarship in Charlotte’s name,” says Parrett.
The scholarship is available to NC State College of Veterinary Medicine students who are in their first through third year of study, who are interested in companion animal or equine medicine, and who have a track record of service to children in an educational or community setting.
The initial award is for $1,000 with a goal to raise additional support within and beyond the CVM community in order for the scholarship to become endowed.
If you are interested in contributing to the Charlotte Bacon Veterinary Education Scholarship please contact the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation at 919.513.6660.
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NewtownKindness / Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Award
North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation
