Sixty miles southeast of the University of Minnesota Morris (UMM) campus, on the outskirts of Willmar, Minnesota, sits South 71 Veterinary Clinic & Supplies. It’s a place deeply connected to the University, as nearly half of the staff members are UMM alumni.

Gregg Laurence, ’83 B.A., ’87 D.V.M., who owns the clinic, went through the preveterinary program at Morris, which he felt prepared him well to pursue his doctorate degree at the U of M College of Veterinary Medicine.

He says his time on campus not only shaped his career in veterinary medicine, but also led to lifelong bonds with other students. “The University is special; it’s set up to help students form long-term friendships,” he says.

Nathan Laurence

Laurence’s son, Nathan, ’21 B.S., also went through the preveterinary program at UMM from 2016 to 2019. He received the Elmer and Viola Nelson Scholarship, which covered a significant portion of his tuition for a semester. He is now a student in the U of M College of Veterinary Medicine.

A recipient of the Cargill Vet FAST Scholarship, Nathan Laurence is taking part in in the cooperative VetFAST program, which provides University of Minnesota students who plan to work with livestock a faster route through veterinary school.

In addition to watching his son follow in his footsteps, Gregg Laurence believes in paying it forward to the next generation of future veterinarians.

Cody O’Halloran, ’19 B.A., came to the clinic through the UMM Career In Internship grant program, which provides students with hands-on opportunities in their field by pairing them with local businesses. O’Halloran worked alongside Laurence and other staff for several semesters, gaining experience both in the clinic and in the field.

“It’s been really great; there’s a mutual respect back and forth,” O’Halloran says. Now studying veterinary medicine, he credits his internship at South 71 Veterinary Clinic & Supplies for helping him determine his preferred practice focus.

O’Halloran also received two scholarships while at UMM, the Bridgford Summer Scholars Program and the Jeremiah and Karla Konz Scholarship, which provided the financial support that allowed him to get involved in student research.

He says he plans to give back to the campus and students however he can in the future. “The University helped me get where I'm at,” he says.

Support the University of Minnesota Morris by contributing to the Morris Academic eXperiences (MAX) Fund to help students doing research and internships and the Opportunity Scholarship Fund for first-year students.