Russ and Lora Talbot of Ankeny are helping many students in the College of Veterinary Medicine with their $3.4 million donation, establishing the Russ and Lora L. Talbot scholarship program.

“We highly believe in the value of an education, and have a concern to help animals,” Russ Talbot said. “The College of Veterinary Medicine is an outstanding college.

“It’s important to invest in students so they are able to complete their education. We hope this scholarship helps educate many outstanding veterinary medicine students,” he said.

The $2,500-per-year scholarship will be awarded to two veterinary medicine students. Students may renew the award for up to four years as long as criteria are met.

“An awards committee reviews the criteria of possible scholarship recipients based on scholastic achievement, financial achievement and that they have residency in Iowa,” said Eldon Uhlenhopp, associate dean of academic and student affairs in the College of Veterinary Medicine. “Once one is a Talbot Scholar, they must maintain a 2.8 GPA in the college to renew the scholarship.”

The Talbots plan on expanding the scholarship to include 50 Iowa residents per year.

“As time goes on, the scholarship has the potential to help provide half the tuition for up to 50 students in veterinary medicine each year,” Uhlenhopp said. “Many students need to take on another job for financial reasons to support themselves, and with this scholarship they will now have the opportunity to focus on school, helping alleviate a financial situation.”

The Talbots are not alumni of Iowa State, but they became interested in the college over time when they saw articles a few years ago about the various animal science programs at ISU.

“We wanted to do more to help the wildlife and campaign side of animals,” Talbot said. “We decided we wanted to establish a permanent endowment for the college. Our interest in the college grows in terms of what we can do to help the animals and people of the world.”

Dalene Abner, communications manager for the ISU Foundation, said the Talbots’ contribution speaks highly of the university.

They feel that “helping students is like planting seeds, which will grow and develop into their very own lives of productive service and professional excellence,” Abner said. “By investing our resources in the education of Iowa State veterinary medicine students, the value of these resources will extend in perpetuity.”