(July 9, 2009 Stillwater, OK) – Two veterinary students at the Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Center for Veterinary Health Sciences earned second prize for their entry in Hill’s Innovations in Public Health Award competition.

Jennifer Clarke and Rachel Perteet, both in the Class of 2011, submitted a proposal entitled “Bed Bugs and Beyond” to educate elementary age children and their parents about select, commonly found household ectoparasites such as bedbugs, head lice, fleas and ticks.

A common occurrence in households, these parasites and their potential for disease transmission pose a significant health concern for both people and their pets. Providing an interactive packet about the pests to the children along with useful tips for controlling the parasites for their parents is what these veterinary students propose to increase awareness, knowledge and understanding about the pests and how to control them.

“We are extremely proud of Jennifer and Rachel for winning this award,” says Dr. Chris Ross, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. “They represent the high caliber of students and mentors found here at Oklahoma State.”

Sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., each student will receive a $750 cash award in recognition of her effort. The award is designed to stimulate interest in veterinary public health, encourage creative thinking and develop writing skills among veterinary students. Entries were judged on the following criteria: 1) clarity of the problem statement, objectives, implementation plan, project significance, soundness of evaluation plan, and reasonableness of budget; 2) innovation in approach to health promotion or disease prevention; 3) feasibility of approach with regard to implementation of the project; and 4) potential impact on a community or target population.

The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is one of 28 veterinary colleges in the United States and is fully accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The center’s Boren Veterinary Medial Teaching Hospital is open to the public and provides routine and specialized care for small and large animals. It also offers 24 hour emergency care and is certified by the American Animal Hospital Association. For more information, visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7000.

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This is the model for the game board and game pieces: