Servantes selected for USDA veterinary internship program

Lamar University (LU) senior Ryan Servantes has been selected for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Saul T. Wilson, Jr. Internship Program, an opportunity that will provide him with professional experience and financial support as he prepares for veterinary school.

Servantes, a Mission, Texas, native and biology pre-veterinary senior, is among the students selected for the USDA program, which combines paid internship experience with scholarship assistance for students pursuing veterinary careers.

The opportunity comes as Servantes prepares to apply to veterinary school. He plans to earn his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree after graduating from LU and then fulfill the program's service commitment by working for the USDA for at least five years.

"It means the world to me," Servantes said. "Having a way to pay for vet school allows me to put my focus mainly in studying and keeps me motivated to stay on the path all the way through."

The scholarship will help Servantes focus on his veterinary education while providing a path into federal veterinary service after graduation.

"This scholarship also guarantees that I will have a job out of vet school, so this experience is providing me so much, and I am extremely grateful to have received it," he said.

Servantes' interest in veterinary medicine is rooted in his upbringing in the Rio Grande Valley. He said growing up in Mission shaped his understanding of family, community and the impact individual actions can have on the world around him.

"Raised in the Rio Grande Valley, this community shaped my values, instilling the importance of family, community, and the understanding that everyday actions can have a lasting impact on the world around us," Servantes said.

His academic interests extend beyond treating individual animals. Servantes hopes to contribute to research involving animal health and wildlife while examining the relationship between human behavior and animal welfare.

"I aspire to become a veterinarian and provide compassionate, individual animal care, and also contribute to research aimed at protecting animal life," he said.

At LU, Servantes has gained experience in both research and leadership. He was a SURF Fellow in fall 2025 and worked with mentor James Armacost to study Angel Wing Syndrome in domestic ducks. The research examined the severity of the condition and whether it was associated with human foot traffic at parks. Servantes received the BEST UG-S Advanced Poster award for the project.

He also is a member of the Reaud Leadership Institute (RLI) and Reaud Honors College and is part of the inaugural Reaud Leadership Institute cohort. He serves as a LU Ambassador and Presidential Scholar and is involved in Pre-Vet Concentration Organization and Passion of Animal Welfare for Students.

Servantes said his experiences through the RLI and Honors College gave him the confidence to pursue opportunities such as the USDA program.

"Through the RLI and the Honors College, I have gained the experience and confidence to even apply for scholarships like this," he said.

The programs also have helped him develop the leadership skills he hopes to use throughout his veterinary career. Servantes has identified becoming a more effective communicator and active listener as two of his leadership goals.

"There are so many programs and opportunities that are offered by the Honors College, which help develop students into future leaders and give them the ability to succeed in and out of the classroom," he said.

Outside the classroom, Servantes is a member of LU's track and cross-country teams. He also participates in campus organizations related to veterinary medicine and animal welfare.

As he begins his senior year, Servantes said he is grateful for the people and opportunities that have shaped his time at LU.

"I can proudly say that Lamar University has opened every door I've needed to grow into the student, athlete, leader, and future veterinarian I aspire to be," Servantes said. "The support of my professors, mentors, and fellow students has shaped me in ways I will carry for the rest of my life."

Servantes plans to attend veterinary school after graduating from LU. Following veterinary school, he will work with the USDA for at least five years through the Saul T. Wilson, Jr. program before deciding the next step in his career.