Alumni Awards & Nomination Forms

  • Dr. Erwin Small Award Nomination Form
  • Outstanding Young Alumni Nomination Form
  • Special Service Award Nomination Form
  • Previous Award Winners

    • Veterinary Medical Alumni Association

    2001 South Lincoln Avenue
    Urbana, Illinois 61802

    P: 217-333-2761
    F: 217-244-8887
    vmaa@vetmed.illinois.edu

    Know someone who deserves one of these awards? Nominate them today!

    Nominations for the 2025 awards ceremony must be submitted by July 4, 2025, for consideration.

    Ceremony Details

    This year’s ceremony will be held at the University of Illinois Philanthropy Center during the annual Fall Conference for Veterinarians.

    Date: September 18, 2025
    Time: 4 to 6 p.m. with awards presentation at 5 p.m.
    Location: 303 St. Mary’s Road | Champaign, IL

    Meet our 2024 award winners.

    The Veterinary Medical Alumni Association has the honor of presenting the Dr. Erwin Small Distinguished Alumni Award, the Special Service Award, and the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.  Read more about the awards below.

    Contact us if you have any questions.

    DR. ERWIN SMALL DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

    The Dr. Erwin Small Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize distinguished Illinois graduates (DVM, PhD, and MS degree holders) who have excelled in their respective fields and have made significant contributions to the profession and/or college, regardless of where they reside. This honor is named after the late Dr. Erwin Small (IL ’57), professor emeritus and former associate dean of alumni and public affairs at the College. It is a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to the advancement of veterinary medicine, specifically to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at Urbana-Champaign.

    See list of previous recipients

    Dr. Sandra Faeh headshot
    The Dr. Erwin Small Distinguished Alumni Award was given to Dr. Sandra Faeh in recognition of her significant contributions in organized veterinary medicine, veterinary practice, and mentoring. Dr. Faeh is a 1996 DVM graduate of the University of Illinois and is the current chief medical officer for the National Veterinary Associates.

     

    OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

    The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes early-career Illinois graduates (DVM, PhD, and MS degree holders) who have excelled early in their respective fields and who embody the Illini spirit of “labor and learning,” through creativity and entrepreneurship in the field of veterinary medicine, regardless of where they live.

    See list of previous recipients

    Dr. Matthew Berry headshot
    Class of 2017 salutatorian, Dr. Matthew Berry was selected for the Outstanding Young Alumni Award due to his success as an emerging leader in comparative oncology and translational research. He is an assistant professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

    SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD

    The Special Service Award recognizes an outstanding individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the advancement of the veterinary profession and/or the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. This individual or organization can be a non-veterinarian or a veterinarian who holds a degree from an institution other than the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

    See list of previous recipients

    Debbie Heinrichs and Dr. Ray Heinrichs, both wearing sunglasses outside
    The Special Service Award goes to Dr. Ray and Debbie Heinrichs for their mentorship and support of Illinois veterinary students through veterinary outreach to Native American communities that rely on horses and other equids. Dr. Heinrichs earned his veterinary degree from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. He and Debbie operate the Southern Illinois Mobile Veterinary Clinic in Anna, Illinois.