Vet Tech is April’s Aggie of the Month

Ivana Burgos of Grand Island has been named the Aggie of the Month for April, 2019. She is studying veterinary technology, shown here with Char, the dog she is training in an obedience class. (Photo by J. Kennicutt / NCTA News)

April 22, 2019

By Jocelyn Kennicutt, NCTA News

CURTIS, Neb. – A first-year veterinary technology and agribusiness student at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Ivana Burgos, was recently named April’s Aggie of the Month.

Burgos is from Grand Island.

She was nominated for the student award by Professor Mary Rittenhouse, chair of NCTA’s Agribusiness Management Systems.

While Burgos was studying in the Ag Sales class during the fall semester, Rittenhouse said she couldn’t help but notice Ivana’s attention to detail and a profound sense of responsibility.

“I’m just so impressed with Ivana,” Rittenhouse said. “She takes such pride in her work and truly, she is just blossoming as a student here.”

In January, Rittenhouse hired Burgos as a student worker in the AMS department, which is located on second floor in Agriculture Hall.

Even with balancing a busy class schedule and working in Ag Hall, Burgos had a second campus job working for custodial and security supervisor, Rebecca Currie.

Much of her work entails custodial duties at the campus library, a building situated between Ag Hall and her primary class and laboratory site up the hill at the Veterinary Technology complex.

“Ivana is so helpful and polite, always, in my dog obedience and lab science classes.” says Judy Bowmaster-Cole, professor of Veterinary Technology. “She is just such a down-to-earth, good person.”

After graduating from Grand Island Senior High and heading to Curtis, Burgos knew that she found the right fit at NCTA.

“I immediately felt so welcomed on campus!” says Burgos.

Her campus activities outside of campus employment includes membership in Student Technicians of Veterinary Medicine Association.

After completing three years and earning an associate degree at NCTA, Burgos plans to expand her education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for a bachelor’s degree in both ag business and veterinary technology.

“One day, I would like to work at a small animal clinic,” Burgos said. “I would even consider going into marine biology or working at a zoo in the future.

With these big plans ahead, Burgos is grateful for NCTA being a part of her education.

“This campus has given me so many opportunities this year,” exclaims Burgos. “I can’t wait to see what others come my way!”

On Thursday, she joined her classmates from NCTA’s Exotic Animals class for a one-day trip to the Riverside Discovery Center in Scottsbluff.

There, she learned more about student internships and opportunities for veterinary technicians at a zoo. She hopes to intern in the Lincoln area.

This summer Burgos takes NCTA summer classes in Vet Tech’s “Fur and Feather,” parasitology, medical terminology, animal facilities, and accounting.

As the April Aggie of the Month, Burgos will receive a certificate from the office of NCTA Dean Ron Rosati.