BLINN’S VETERINARY TECH PROGRAM SETS STUDENTS ON DREAM CAREER PATH
Growing up in a military family meant a lot of moving around for Blinn College graduate Chelsea Gardner, but there was something special about Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium that anchored her heart in Nebraska.
“That zoo had a lot of sentimental value for me,” Gardner said. “We lived in Omaha for a while and my favorite time to go was first snow because you could sense the excitement in the air and in the animals.”
More than 10 years later Gardner, a College Station native, would receive a three-month behind-the-scenes experience at the beloved Omaha zoo thanks to the exceptional training she received in Blinn College’s Veterinary Technology Program.
Gardner earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Texas A&M University in 2012, but still felt the tug to live out her childhood dream of working in a zoo. To land her dream job, she would have to pursue further education that would provide her with hands-on experience.
“I knew I could make the decision to get my master’s degree and not love what I do, or go out of order a bit and do what I love for the rest of my life,” she said. “I decided on Blinn’s vet tech program because it offered hands-on experience at Texas A&M— that was the unique thing that really drew me to the program. I knew I could get a lot of clinical experience and be a more competitive job candidate.”
Instead of working toward a master’s degree, Gardner enrolled in Blinn’s Veterinary Technology Program. She earned her associate degree in May 2014 and immediately secured an internship as a veterinary technician at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, named the top zoo in the world by TripAdvisor.
Though it’s not a program requirement, students enrolled in Blinn’s competitive two-year vet tech program often secure hard-to-find internships and full-time employment positions upon graduating because of the rigor of the coursework and the hands-on experience the program provides.
“The level of education is unparalleled,” said Program Director David Sessum. “They participate right alongside veterinary medicine students at Texas A&M and use state-of-the-art equipment you can’t find at other facilities.”
Veterinary technology is one of the fastest-growing professions in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Veterinary technicians assist in diagnosis and surgery, sample collection, sample submission, client communication and research. They provide support to veterinarians in much the same way nurses assist doctors.
Blinn’s program is one of just eight accredited in the state, and its partnership with the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences allows Blinn students to get hands-on training in every aspect of the wide-ranging field.
“It’s really rewarding to work for the number one zoo in the world and know that I’m equipped for the job,” Gardner said. “It’s awesome to see that Blinn is graduating students who can be successful in the workplace.”
Gardner was originally accepted to spend six weeks as an intern in the zoo’s hospital, but was asked to stay an additional 10 weeks. During the internship, Gardner assisted with surgery and health screenings on more than 60 species, including bears, large cats, primates and amphibians.
“I look at the zoo in a completely different way,” Gardner said. “So much of it was the same, but this time I got to go through the secret doors I always wondered about as a kid. It’s a dream come true to help preserve species so that families can enjoy the beauty I experienced with my family.”
Last week, Gardner was offered a full-time position as a veterinary technician at the world-renowned zoo. She will begin later this month.
For more information on Blinn’s vet tech program, visit: www.blinn.edu/twe/vet_tech/. The deadline to apply for Fall 2015 admission is May 31. Prospective students must attend an information session to receive an application. Sessions are available online at any time or face-to-face on May 20.