Endowed Scholarship Supports Veterinarians Who Practice in Rural Areas

Liz Solters, a lifelong animal rescuer and advocate from Surry County, North Carolina, has endowed the Sydney and Fran Memorial Veterinary Scholarship at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine to support future veterinarians serving rural communities. Named after her first two dogs, the scholarship honors Solters’ deep connection to the Veterinary college, where her pets were once treated, inspiring her decades-long commitment to veterinary education.

The 2024–25 recipient, Kelli Gillespie, a fourth-year student on the food animal track, is pursuing a career in rural Veterinary medicine to address shortages in agricultural areas. Gillespie credits the scholarship with enabling her to pursue externships in rural Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ireland, helping her prepare for food animal practice. Solters, a retired military professional, said she views the scholarship—and her decision to leave her estate to the college—as a lasting way to “give back” and ensure more veterinarians serve underserved rural communities.