Rex Anderson VLC Travel Award Endowment Fund
Celebrating a legacy by empowering future leaders
Dr. Rex R. Anderson represented his home state of Montana as a member of the AVMA House of Delegates for two decades, ultimately taking the helm as Chair of the House Advisory Committee (HAC) in 2021. He was committed to the veterinary profession until his unexpected passing in December 2022. Honoring Dr. Anderson’s passion for the profession, this fund was proposed by the HAC and other members of the veterinary community to commemorate his legacy of leadership.
The purpose of this fund is to empower the future of the profession by providing a $2,000 travel award for a veterinary student or recent graduate to attend the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference (VLC) each year.
Meet Nyssa Schairer - Rex Anderson VLC Travel Award recipient
Thanks to the generous support of AVMF donors, scholarships are opening doors for the next generation of veterinary professionals. In this video, 2026 Rex Anderson VLC Travel Award recipient Nyssa Schairer shares her gratitude for the opportunity to attend the Veterinary Leadership Conference and invest in her future in veterinary medicine.
Eligibility requirements
- SAVMA member in good standing or a recent graduate (five years or less) of a veterinary school accredited by the AVMA Council on Education
- Must be located within the United States (grants will be provided to cover domestic travel expenses only)
- Preference is given to a recipient with a connection to Montana (from Montana, attends school in Montana, plans to return to practice in Montana etc.)
- For full details, download the scholarship application below.
Timeline
The application cycle for this scholarship is now closed. Check back here or watch the AVMF Facebook page for more information.
- Emailed applications accepted: September 1 – September 30, 2025
- Applications reviewed: October 1 – October 31, 2025
- Award notification and funds disbursement: Fall 2025 semester
Honor the memory of Dr. Anderson
Your gifts support the future of the profession! To support this program, please select that you want to support the “Rex Anderson Travel Fund” in the dropdown menu when completing the gift form.
Your gifts support the future of the profession! To support this program, please select that you want to support the “Rex Anderson Travel Fund” in the dropdown menu when completing the gift form.
Remembering Dr. Anderson
We asked colleagues of Dr. Anderson to describe him in three words. Here is what they said:
“Authentic, thoughtful, witty”
Dr. Douglas Kratt
“Unpretentious, humorous, and genuine. He kept me laughing for 44 years.”
Dr. Bill Duncan
“It’s not really possible to choose only three. Rex was bright, curious, open-minded, authentic, collegial – never met a stranger, genuinely interested in people, humble, fun-loving, positive, trustworthy, generous, a loyal friend, and consummate servant leader. These only begin to describe who Rex was. He was one-of-kind.”
Dr. David Granstrom