Carly is a first-year veterinary student from the southern Illinois town of Breese. She hopes to combine her interests in production medicine and in wildlife conservation medicine with a deeper dive into public health goals. This summer Carly will work with Dr. Matt Allender in the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab to study threatened and endangered reptiles in northern Illinois.

Cristen, a third-year student, says her primary mission in becoming a veterinarian is to serve clients and communities by providing quality care for their animals. She is interested in practice ownership and surgery. Originally from Benton, Ill., Cristen now resides in Urbana with her husband, Derek, and their wonderful mixed-breed dog, Archie.