Name: J. Fred Smithcors Essay Contest
Award Amount:
First Prize: $1,200
Second Prize: $1,000
Third Prize: $800
Fourth Prize: $500
Information And Eligibility:
The J. Fred Smithcors Essay Contest is a prestigious annual academic competition sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical History Society (AVMHS) that encourages veterinary students to explore, research, and write about the history of veterinary medicine. The contest is named in honor of Dr. J. Fred Smithcors, DVM, PhD, a foundational figure in veterinary historiography whose lifelong work shaped the study and preservation of veterinary history. Dr. Smithcors was the founder of the AVMHS and made lasting contributions as an author, educator, editor, and publisher, helping establish veterinary history as an essential scholarly discipline within the profession.
The contest is open to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students enrolled in AVMA-accredited veterinary colleges who wish to explore historical topics of their choice related to veterinary medicine. Students may submit one or more essays during each year of their veterinary education, remaining eligible throughout all four years of study until graduation. This flexibility allows students to engage with veterinary history at any stage of their academic development and encourages long-term scholarly participation.
Essays are evaluated through a blind review process by a panel of AVMHS judges to ensure impartiality and academic fairness. Submissions are assessed for originality, historical accuracy, depth of research, clarity of writing, and overall contribution to the understanding of veterinary history. The top four essays receive monetary awards funded in honor of Dr. Elizabeth Atwood Lawrence, VMD, PhD, a highly respected scholar in veterinary history who served twice as president of the AVMHS and contributed extensively as an author, educator, and contest judge. Since 2012, these prizes have been supported through the generosity of the Donaldson Charitable Trust in recognition of Dr. Lawrence’s enduring impact on veterinary scholarship.
Beyond financial awards, the contest provides significant professional and academic benefits. Every student who submits an acceptable essay receives a complimentary one-year membership in the American Veterinary Medical History Society. This membership includes access to Society newsletters and two issues of Veterinary Heritage, the AVMHS scholarly journal. In addition, AVMHS reserves the right to publish meritorious essays in Veterinary Heritage, offering students an opportunity for early academic publication and professional recognition.
Eligibility Requirements:
Application Requirements:
Deadline: June
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Request to Update or Remove This Scholarship. The CollegeWhale ID number for this Scholarship is #17826. This Scholarship was added in January 2026 and last reviewed by a member of our staff on January, 2026.
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This Scholarship is tagged with the following criteria: June / Veterinary
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