Dr. Marcia Thibeault and her mother with Clancy.
Marcia Thibeault, DVM, ’84 attributes almost every aspect of her professional life to the veterinary education she received at Colorado State University. “From private practice, to thoroughbred mid-wife, to professor of equine studies, my education at Colorado State provided the basis for a variety of career options. I was so impressed with the faculty, the amazing people and their passion for veterinary medicine,” says Dr. Thibeault. That same passion and sense of gratitude for the opportunity to attend veterinary school motivated Thibeault to help today’s young people fulfill their dreams of a lifetime caring for animals. She recently established the DVM Class of 1984 Scholarship and has been rallying her former classmates to help ensure deserving professional veterinary medical students have the opportunity to attend one of the foremost veterinary programs in the country.
Dr. Thibeault with her book.
In light of rising tuition costs, Dr. Thibeault is concerned that a veterinary education will be out of the reach of too many wonderful students. She explains that veterinary medicine is not your average graduate program. “It is so expensive to provide the medical and surgical equipment, the expert faculty, and the animals. I don’t want a veterinary education to be unaffordable for the smart, hardworking people that share my aspiration."
The DVM Class of 1984 Scholarship has not been awarded as it has not reached endowment level, ($25,000) but it is more than half way there thanks to the increasing frequency of gifts from Dr. Thibeault’s former classmates. “If every class would create an endowed scholarship fund, we could really make a difference!”
While Dr. Thibeault took the initiative to create her class scholarship with the inaugural gift, she continues to make regular contributions using proceeds from the sales of her book, I Make Horse Calls. A chapter in the book features stories from her time at Colorado State University. In addition to I Make Horse Calls she has authored More Horse Calls and is in the midst of writing her third book. She also speaks at horse fairs across the country, sharing her knowledge with every day horse owners.
Marcia Thibeault is grateful she had the opportunity to earn a degree that enabled her to enjoy a rewarding career – a career that led her to become an author, a mentor and an advocate for veterinary education. “My education is invaluable to me. Those who aspire to be veterinarians need our help. We can make a difference for the next generation of veterinarians who choose Colorado State University.”