Great Bay Community College Veterinary Technology student Cassandra Levesque has received a $10,000 scholarship from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Levesque chose Great Bay’s two-year program to earn her veterinary technician degree, drawn to the College’s flexible format and dedicated faculty. Her winning scholarship essay focused on her two years of experience fostering cats and kittens for Midcoast Humane Society in Maine prior to enrolling at Great Bay.
As part of the award, Levesque has committed to working in shelter medicine for three years, a requirement that aligns with her career goals.
“The scholarship is just amazing,” said Levesque. “With the scholarship comes a moral obligation to work in shelter medicine for three years, which I wanted to do anyway. I still can’t believe I got it.”
Levesque, who already holds a bachelor’s degree, returned to higher education after spending time out of the workforce and realizing her passion for animal care while fostering rescue animals. Now in her fourth semester of the five-semester vet tech program, she attributes much of her success to Great Bay’s supportive academic environment and practical focus.
“The professors are outstanding and really know their stuff,” said Levesque. “There are multiple veterinarians and veterinary technicians teaching in the program, and they give you a concrete reason why you need to know something. It is not just for the big test. It is for doing your job and understanding the ‘why’ behind it all.”
During her studies, Levesque completed a clinical internship at Sugar River Veterinary Hospital in Grantham, where she was subsequently hired, and will complete a second surgical internship in the spring. After graduating in the spring, she will sit for the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) to earn her credential.
After that, she plans to balance her work in private practice with shelter medicine.
“It has been a challenge, but it has been so much fun because I have a goal now and I am going to school for a real reason,” Levesque said. “Step one is passing the VTNE, and step two is working a few days a week at Sugar River Veterinary Hospital and a few days a week in shelter medicine.”