Dr. Joseph and Sonya Landholm Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association

Description

The Landholm Veterinary Acupuncture Scholarship is an endowed award administered by the NVMA Centennial Scholarship Foundation. Its purpose is to support veterinarians and veterinary students pursuing training that leads to certification in veterinary acupuncture. The scholarship reimburses qualifying training expenses after an application is accepted, enabling recipients to complete multi‑session certification programs taken over time. Awards are intended specifically for costs directly associated with accredited acupuncture training.

- Purpose: support training toward veterinary acupuncture certification
- Administrator: NVMA Centennial Scholarship Foundation (the Foundation)
- Award type: reimbursement for qualifying training expenses
- Eligible use: direct costs of accredited acupuncture certification programs

Eligibility

Applicants must have a clear connection to Nebraska and the NVMA to qualify for the award. Eligible applicants are either veterinary students who are originally from Nebraska or veterinarians currently licensed in Nebraska and who are members of the NVMA. Applicants must provide documentation of residency/origin and NVMA membership as part of the application. Ineligible candidates include out‑of‑state practitioners without NVMA membership and students not originally from Nebraska.

- Who may apply: Nebraska‑origin veterinary students OR Nebraska‑licensed NVMA member veterinarians
- Proof required: documentation of Nebraska origin or license and NVMA membership
- Exclusions: applicants without Nebraska ties or NVMA membership

Award Value

Recipients may be reimbursed for eligible expenses up to a maximum of $4,500. Reimbursement is limited to expenses incurred after the Foundation has accepted the application; prior expenses are not eligible. Because certification programs often require multiple sessions over several years, payments are issued upon submission of proof of attendance and an itemized expense report for each training session. The scholarship functions as a post‑expense reimbursement rather than an upfront grant.

- Maximum reimbursement: $4,500 per recipient
- Eligible timeframe: expenses incurred after application acceptance only
- Payment trigger: proof of attendance + associated expense report for each session
- Nature: reimbursement (not an advance)

Application Timeline

The Foundation’s board reviews applications twice annually at scheduled meetings in January and September. Applicants should submit complete applications well before these meetings to ensure timely consideration. After acceptance, recipients submit session receipts and attendance documentation to receive reimbursements; processing follows the board’s approval. Applicants are advised to confirm submission deadlines with the Foundation before applying.

- Review schedule: January and September board meetings
- Submit early: allow time for review before meeting dates
- Post‑approval process: submit receipts and attendance records for reimbursement
- Verify current deadlines with the Foundation

History of the Award

Dr. Joseph and Sonya Landholm established this endowed scholarship in 2001 to advance veterinary acupuncture education. Dr. Landholm, a longtime Nebraska practitioner with clinics in Lexington and Lincoln, was among the first certified veterinary acupuncturists in the Midwest and is a Life Member of the NVMA. The Landholms created the fund to support veterinarians and students pursuing formal acupuncture certification; they currently reside in Sedona, Arizona. The award reflects their commitment to innovation and professional development within Nebraska veterinary medicine.

- Founded: 2001 by Dr. Joseph and Sonya Landholm
- Founder background: Dr. Landholm — early Midwest certified veterinary acupuncturist and NVMA Life Member
- Purpose origin: promote veterinary acupuncture training and certification
- Founder residence: currently Sedona, Arizona

If you want, I can draft a concise application checklist or a sample document list to include with the application.