Maxwell Swine Scholarship
A $5000 scholarship will be awarded to a Graduate Student(s) from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine or the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary.
A second $5000 scholarship will be awarded to a DVM Graduate from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine or the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary.
WCASV Swine DVM Graduate Scholarship
WCASV Maxwell Swine Graduate Student Scholarship
2024 Maxwell Award Recipients
Maxwell DVM Scholarship
Dr. Kyle Mitchell

Kyle grew up in Lethbridge Alberta and has always had an interest in animals and the outdoors. After realizing he could turn this passion for animals into a job, he decided to pursue a Bachelor of Biological Sciences at the University of Lethbridge as the foundation of his pre-veterinary medicine studies. During the fall of his fourth year at U of L he applied to the veterinary Medicine program at the University of Calgary. During his time at U of C he had minimal opportunities to be involved in the swine industry. It was challenging to get into barns due to biosecurity protocols and there were not many swine veterinarians to begin with. It was in his 4th year rotation that he was finally introduced to swine production and following that he decided to pursue swine medicine after graduation.
He is currently employed with Innovative Veterinary services where he spends half his time doing bovine medicine and the other half developing his knowledge and skills in swine medicine. Kyle plans to stay with IVS long-term and is excited to see where his interest in swine medicine takes him.
Maxwell Graduate Student Scholarship
Karolina Steinerova

Karolina is a PhD student specializing in Swine Behaviour and Welfare at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, under the supervision of Dr. Yolande Seddon. Her journey toward improving swine health and welfare has been shaped by a diverse academic and international background, grounded in both scientific rigor and hands-on experience.
She earned my undergraduate degree in Animal Protection and Welfare with honors from the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Czechia, where my interest in animal welfare first began. Seeking to apply my academic knowledge to real-world challenges, she pursued an MSc in Animal Science at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, where she focused on minimizing pig aggression during feeding. In Sweden, she had the opportunity to engage with conventional and organic producers, learning how welfare improvements can be integrated with profitable farming practices, reinforcing my belief in the practical application of scientific findings.
An exchange at the University of Alberta, Canada, broadened her exposure to diverse husbandry systems. She interned at a pig research barn, gaining invaluable hands-on experience that deepened my understanding of the direct link between pig welfare, health, and productivity. These experiences have fueled her drive to develop innovative, science-based strategies that enhance both the well-being and performance of pigs.
Karolina’s current PhD research delves into the relationship between play behaviour and pig health, investigating how play can serve as an indicator of welfare and a tool for optimizing production. With a clear focus on benefiting the swine industry, she aims to contribute research that not only improves animal lives but also helps producers meet evolving welfare standards sustainably.
Past Maxwell Swine Scholarship Recipients
- 2023 – Hayley Bowling, Arthur Nery Finatto, and Roman Nosach
- 2022 – Svetlana Ponsin and Darian Polluck
- 2021 – Sulove Koirala
- 2020 – Juan Camilo Parra Aguirre
- 2019 – Mariia Tokareva and Teryn Girard
- 2018 – Guilherme Rizzato and Javier Zarate
- 2017 – Jared Rothwell and Vinicius Viana
- 2016 – Carolina Malgarin and Diana Rodriguez
- 2015 – Jessica Law and Matheus Costa
WCASV WCVM Graduate Award
No award presented in 2024
Lifetime Membership Award
- 2021 – Dr. Betty Althouse
- 2020 – Dr. Chris Byra and Dr. Mark Jacobson
- 2018 – Mike Sheridan and Neil Shantz
- 2017 – Al Theede
- Previous years
- Bill Stone
- Jim Sawatsky
- Chuck Rhodes
Travel Bursaries
WCVM Recipients
- 2018 – Joel Ballard
- 2016 – Julia Hamilton, Tara Vielfaure, Samantha Goosen, Luke Nickel, Christian Scott, Brianna Thiemann, and Cordell Young
Scholarship
WCVM Recipients
- 2023 – Hayley Bowling
- 2021-2022 – Svetlana Ponsin
- 2020-2021 – Kaitlyn Crocker and Nicole Cressman
- 2018-2019 – Joel Ballard
- 2017-2018 – Lauren Redies
- 2016-2017 – Cordell Young
- 2014-2015 – Melissa Desrochers
- 2013-2014 – Monica Schott
- 2012-2013 – Edward Rasmussen
- 2011-2012 – Jenesa Banman
- 2010-2011 – Jennifer Demare
- 2009-2010 – Kurt Preugschas
- 2008-2009 –Leo Kenny
- 2007-2008 – Joshua Lindenback
- 2006-2007 – Kevin Oomah
- 2005-2006 – Marie Legault
- 2004-2005 – Lina Johannson
- 2003-2004 – Leanne Bargen