The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) and Chewy Health have announced the 2026 Chewy Veterinary Leaders scholarship recipients. The program has awarded $900,000 in scholarships since its inception.
The partnership provides financial assistance, professional development resources and mentorship opportunities to underrepresented veterinary students. Each recipient receives a $20,000 scholarship.
"We're honored to partner with Chewy Health to expand access and opportunity within the veterinary professionl," said Ted Y. Mashima, DVM, AAVMC's Interim Chief Executive Officer. "By supporting talented emerging leaders from all backgrounds, we are building a more inclusive field that is better equipped to serve diverse communities and advance veterinary care for all."
The program selects 15 second-year veterinary students from underserved communities based on academic achievements and leadership potential. Beyond scholarships, participants receive bi-monthly peer support sessions, a visit to Chewy's headquarters for leadership and networking opportunities, and post-graduation enrollment in MentorVet LEAP's six-month early-career mentorship program. Recipients also gain access to the Chewy Veterinary Leaders alumni network.
"With this cohort, the Chewy Veterinary Leaders program reaches a significant milestone. In addition to scholarships, we have provided leadership development opportunities and learning experiences for all participants, bringing our total investment in the program to more than $1 million," said Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Health. "This reflects our long-term commitment to expanding opportunity and strengthening the veterinary profession by empowering the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of pet care."
The 2026 recipients were nominated by their institutions and selected for their demonstrated potential to lead within the field:
- Vitaly Capitaine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Jasmine Cobos, Midwestern University
- Natasha George, University of Arizona
- Carolina Gonzalez, University of Georgia
- Dasia Harris, North Carolina State University
- Esmeralda Lopez Hernandez, Cornell University
- Zachary Inniss, The Ohio State University
- Chauntelle Johnson, University of California, Davis
- Christina Lim, University of Missouri
- Crystal Mateo Mendez, Colorado State University
- Marcus McCaskill, Iowa State University
- Maria Rivera, University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Nailah Smith, Purdue University
- Nhi Tran, University of Minnesota
- Joshua Waller, Kansas State University
