On May 15, the 145 members of our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2026 will formally graduate and recite the Veterinarian’s Oath.
We invited them to share their memories, plans, or advice and the responses we received are below.
Grace Fabry
“One of my favorite memories is getting to go on the Shelter Medicine Greece trip with some of my classmates during my fourth year. I loved being able to work on my surgery skills, tour the island, and bond with friends.”
Colleen McDonnell
“I have two!
My first favorite moment is during lambing season, when a couple of my friends went to work a lambing shift where we tubed lambs, paired the ewes with the lambs, and watched for dystocia. It was so fun and rewarding, even in the middle of the night!
My second favorite moment was when I did an externship at the Kentucky Derby with Kentucky Equine Medical Associates. It was a dream come true to help get some Oaks and Derby horses make it to the start of their races. It was so fulfilling and meaningful to watch them parade to the start, knowing how hard they worked to get there and the interventions we took to get them there safely. I will never forget my Derby week externship.”
Sofia Murillo Logan
“Some favorite memories are from working in the wildlife clinic, where I got to practice my clinical skills while exploring so many different species.”
Michael E. Rodriguez Cameron
“One of my favorite memories at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine was being recognized with two scholarships for my performance in clinical medicine and one in cardiology. It wasn’t just about the awards; it was the moment everything I had worked for came together.”
Nadia Zange
“Friend group trip to New Orleans during last spring break during third year going into clinical year.”