Aspiring veterinarian receives scholarship

• Jessica Anderson

Anderson recently received a scholarship to help pay for her veterinary education.

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The University of Minnesota-Morris announced that Jessica Anderson of Two Harbors received the Annette Seppanen and Curt Nelson Scholarship in the amount of $1300 at the school’s annual Scholarship Jubilee in November. The award is presented to first-year students on the basis of academic merit.

A press release from UM-M said that Anderson is expected to graduate in 2016 with a degree in Biology and Pre-Veterinary, but she said she will be applying for acceptance into an accelerated program which will allow her to complete her degree a year early. These recent awards and opportunities are a continuation of Jessica’s past academic successes. Jessica’s dad, Greg Anderson, said that out of a class of 100, his daughter was one of 12 Two Harbors High School seniors with a grade point average of over 3.9 in 2011.

“It was a strong class last year. They pushed themselves and they pushed each other,” he said, and her hard work has paid off.

As a senior Jessica received scholarships from Minnesota Power, La Bounty and UM-M as well as the Mary Schlangen Memorial Scholarship, said Greg. The Mary Schlangen scholarship is named for the Two Harbors veterinarian who lost her life in a car crash in 2007.

Jessica’s fascination with veterinary medicine has been apparent to her family all her life, said her dad. The Anderson critter collection includes two each: cats, dogs and rabbits and an eight-year old guinnea pig—all belonging to Jessica. She was also a volunteer at the animal shelter for several years. An injury when she was a pre-teen gave her another opportunity to gain animal care experience.

“She blew out the MCL of her knee at 12…and I said your soccer career is done,” said Greg who was concerned that his daughter would sustain permanent damage if she continued to play. He said he was not surprised when “of course she took up horseback riding. She’s 5’11” and weighs about 100 pounds, but they always gave her the tough ones to ride because she could handle them.”

Jessica is currently taking General Chemistry, Bio-Diversity, U.S. History and Introduction to Political Theory and is in the process of deciding what to do when the semester ends.

“I’m considering interning during the summer,” she said, “there are lots of interning opportunities in Morris, but I haven’t decided yet.”

Tags: two harbors, education, scholarship