The Northwestern Connecticut Community College Veterinary Technician Club, known as the Connecticut Association of Veterinary Technicians (CAVT), have had an extremely active and successful club this past school year; they have already had many successful activities and still have many planned. Currently they hold student chapter affiliations, both locally, with the Connecticut Associations of Animal Health Technician (CAAHT) as well as nationally, with the North American Veterinary Technician Association (NAVTA).

The veterinary technician students have had an educational and enjoyable trip to the Connecticut Beardsley Zoo that included a “behind-the-scenes” tour of the animal health care side of the zoo. They were also fortunate enough to get a fantastic, similar “behind-the-scenes” tour of the animal care facilities of the Bronx Zoo where they were able to walk through the Bronx Zoo’s laboratory, radiology, and surgery facilities. Other field trips of this type are currently being considered, including a tour of the Mystic and Connecticut’s Maritime Aquariums.

They have had booths at a local Winsted Fall Festival and at the Hartford Pet Exposition. At both of these occasions, the students were able to raise an awareness of the Veterinary Technician Program at NCCC as well as raise some funds for future activities. The students have also had several social gatherings, including a meeting in order to create a 6-foot, hand-sewn banner depicting various species and quotes related to the program. The students even hosted a Halloween party where owners and pets came outfitted in costumes. And they have designed t-shirts and scrub shirts that proudly proclaim an affiliation to the NCCC Veterinary Technician Program.

The student chapter of NCCC’s Veterinary Technician Program has already proven to be an extremely active club. As seen in their plans for future months, they will remain as active and dedicated to the goal of encouraging the continued educational and personal growth of the veterinary technician students. The last months of the spring semester will include a focus on finding students, who will be as dedicated to achieving the goals of the club, to replace those officers that are graduating. The success of the students graduated from Northwestern Connecticut Community College’s Veterinary Technician Program is largely based upon the support and encouragement of the veterinary technician student club.

To get more information regarding the Vet Tech club, contact Susan Engwall, DVM at  sengwall@nwcc.commnet.edu.