2020 Zinpro/Schugel Scholarship Awarded to Joshua Brown

The annual scholarship supports students studying to obtain their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., July 2, 2020 – Zinpro Corporation, the industry leader in performance trace mineral nutrition for livestock, poultry, aquaculture and companion animals, today announced that the company has awarded Joshua Brown with the 2020 Zinpro/Schugel Scholarship. Established in 2011, the Zinpro/Schugel Scholarship recognizes outstanding academic accomplishments by a third-year veterinary student studying food-animal medicine at the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine. The scholarship honors Dr. LaVerne Schugel, former director of the company’s research and nutrition services department, who graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1957.

Brown, of Hastings, Minn., received the Zinpro/Schugel scholarship in recognition of his outstanding academic performance, student leadership and participation in academic, work and community initiatives to benefit animals and the people who care for them. As a veterinary medicine student, he has been active in student groups that promote animal care, including providing pet health care for low-income community members. He earned a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science from the University of Minnesota in 2017 after initially attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls for three years.

When asked about his career ambitions, Brown stated, “The main problem I would most like to solve during my veterinary medicine career would be to overcome the negative misconceptions that consumers often have about farming and farmers.”

Having grown up on a dairy farm, Brown, whose mother is a veterinarian, has a deep desire to better educate consumers on how farm animals are raised and cared for. In addition to his experience working on his family’s farm, and helping with his mother’s verterinary calls, Brown interned on a 1,700-cow dairy in Wisconsin. While there, he helped with herd checks, calving, processing calves, treating cows, and recording animal health data.

“We share Joshua’s commitment to improving relationships among diverse groups of people and communities, especially among food producers and consumers,” said Terry Ward, Ph.D., director of strategy, Zinpro Corporation. “Joshua demonstrates the same strong commitment to animal health and wellness shown by Dr. Schugel, for which this scholarship was named. It’s our honor to award him with this scholarship, as he reflects excellence in his academic pursuits while also taking part in community activities and work experiences that help people.”

Brown continued, “I am very happy and appreciative that I was selected as the recipient of this scholarship. Zinpro’s generosity has inspired me to help others, and I hope that in the future, through mentoring and possibly sponsoring a scholarship, I will be able to help students like myself to achieve their goals and veterinary career aspirations.”

July 2, 2020