Monticello, AR – Codie Jo Tupa of Sparkman, Arkansas, and a recent alumna of the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM), has been selected as the recipient of a highly coveted scholarship to pursue her veterinary medicine degree at the University of Missouri. The scholarship, provided through the Arkansas Health Education Grant, covers out-of-state tuition costs, and signifies Tupa’s outstanding accomplishments and dedication to her field. Tupa is getting an early start on her veterinary degree. Tupa graduated from the UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources in just three years because she took college-level classes while in high school. In addition to being a pre-vet major, Tupa was also an active member of the UAM rodeo team.
Dr. Rocky Lindsey, associate professor of Animal Science and Pre-Veterinary Medicine at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, expressed his pride in Tupa’s accomplishment. “The award speaks highly of her and our program,” said Dr. Lindsey. “Codie Jo was awarded the scholarship to Missouri, meaning she was selected over every other Arkansas resident that is attending there.”
The Arkansas Health Education Grant is an initiative that supports students seeking professional training in various medical fields, including veterinary medicine. This grant program allows Arkansas residents to attend out-of-state institutions and helps alleviate the financial burden of pursuing their dreams.
Michael Blazier, Dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, noted “Our pre-vet program now has a placement rate above 70%, meaning that more than 70% of our students are admitted into veterinary schools. “That’s a testament to the teaching and mentoring of our agriculture faculty, having experienced veterinarians among our faculty, and our campus having a working farm for students to learn animal care.”
Codie Jo is a great example of the talented students we’re blessed with having in our pre-vet program.”
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About the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center
The College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, a University of Arkansas System Center of Excellence, brings together interdisciplinary expertise through a partnership between the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The College and Center are headquartered at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus, but their programs range statewide with the mission of developing and delivering teaching, research, and extension programs that enhance and ensure the sustainability and productivity of forest-based natural resources and agricultural systems. Academic programs are delivered by the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources through the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Through the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, research is administered by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and extension and outreach activities are coordinated by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offer all of their programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and are Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employers.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of twenty entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all seventy-five counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
