BOONE, N.C. — Rebecca Newman, assistant director and wellbeing coordinator for the Veterinary Technology program in Appalachian State University's Department of Rural Resilience and Innovation, is a finalist for a 2025 Bright Minds Award. Newman is nominated in the "Wellness Champion" category, recognizing a person or team who puts people first in specialty or general practice with wellness initiatives and care programs.
The Bright Minds Awards, established in 2020 by The Bridge Club, recognize those elevating veterinary care. Nominees must be practicing veterinary professionals or industry professionals who graduated from an accredited organization and they must be employed or work within the veterinary profession. Winners receive recognition at the Western Veterinary Conference and $500.
Newman's nominator wrote, "Rebecca helps students create wellbeing habits early in their careers to create the next generation of veterinary technicians with wellbeing prioritized from day one! She has volunteered as a peer companion for Not One More Vet for a couple of years. She has served as president-elect on the board of the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators, and Rebecca is involved in the recovery community as someone in long-term recovery from alcohol use disorder and strives to reduce the stigma surrounding it. She is a sought after speaker and a member of the MentorVet team as a group facilitator for their technician program. Finally, she recently earned her Fellow in Veterinary Technology Education, or FVTE. She is a profound leader, outstanding colleague and wellbeing champion who deserves to be honored with this award."
To vote for Newman, visit thebridgeclub.com. The winners will be announced on March 3, 2025.
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About the Department of Rural Resilience and Innovation
Appalachian State University’s Department of Rural Resilience and Innovation is one of 17 academic departments in the College of Arts and Sciences and serves as a hub for App State faculty, staff and students working on scholarship, teaching and service with rural community partners. The department, which launched in summer 2021, is home to App State’s online, four-year Bachelor of Science in veterinary technology degree and offers seed grants to fund research or service-learning class collaborations that address challenges faced by rural American communities. Learn more at rri.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Gibbs
February 10, 2025
BOONE, N.C.
Rebecca Newman is the assistant director and wellbeing coordinator for the Veterinary Technology program in Appalachian State University's Department of Rural Resilience and Innovation. Photo submitted
Rebecca Newman is the assistant director and wellbeing coordinator for the Veterinary Technology program in Appalachian State University's Department of Rural Resilience and Innovation. Photo submitted