Purdue News
Purdue News
March 28, 1997
Alan Rebar, dean of the school of veterinary medicine, will sign an agreement at Central High School Magnet Career Academy in Louisville, Ky., on April 9, establishing Purdue as the mentoring institution for Central's veterinary science track.
The agreement calls for Purdue to provide instructional materials and expertise for the track curriculum, which is the first veterinary science program in a magnet high school in the Midwest. Purdue alumni working as veterinarians in the Louisville area will provide students with internship opportunities in their practices. Central High School students also will visit Purdue's West Lafayette campus at least twice a year. Their first visit is scheduled April 19 to attend the Purdue veterinary school open house.
"This is a win-win situation for everyone involved," said Purdue associate dean John Van Vleet. "Students will get a chance to link with the university while they're still in high school, and Purdue will have another tool to encourage minorities to enter the field of veterinary medicine."
Central draws academically qualified students from all of Jefferson County, Ky., and has the largest minority population of any high school in the state. Students are accepted into the academy based on middle-school grades, a minimum of two recommendations from former teachers and an essay.
Once enrolled as freshman, they spend three weeks in each of the 10 tracks. Central offers six tracks in medicine (including veterinary medicine), three in business-related fields and one in law and government. Students select a major after completing their freshman year.
Purdue is filling the role of mentoring institution because there is no school of veterinary medicine in Kentucky and because of Purdue's proximity to Louisville. Central graduates from the veterinary track may decide to continue their studies at Purdue, and the university is developing scholarship opportunities for deserving students.
The signing ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 9. Rebar and Van Vleet will tour the school and have lunch with Central faculty and students before returning to West Lafayette.
Source: John Van Vleet, (765) 494-9185; home, (765) 463-1041; e-mail, jfv@vet.purdue.edu
Writer: Sharon Bowker, (765) 494-2077; home, (765) 448-9472; e-mail, sharon_bowker@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Journalists are welcome to attend a 10 a.m. student assembly at the Central High School Magnet Career Academy, 1130 W. Chestnut St., Louisville. The event will include a signing ceremony and a parade of live animals, which will begin at approximately 10:30 a.m. For more information, contact Brenda Schmidt, Magnet Coordinator, (405) 485-8649.
