WSU Veterinary Student Earns National Scholarship for Inspiring Pasco Youth Toward STEM and Veterinary Careers

Anjelica Bautista recognized for leadership in advancing inclusion and creating pathways for underrepresented students

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Washington State University veterinary student Anjelica Bautista has been awarded a prestigious Merck Animal Health Diversity Leadership Scholarship for her efforts to introduce grade-school students in Pasco, Washington, to STEM fields and expand their understanding of higher education and careers in veterinary medicine. Bautista has dedicated much of her time outside the classroom to mentoring and inspiring students, many of whom come from economically disadvantaged and minority backgrounds, to pursue futures they never realized were possible.

Why it matters

Bautista's work highlights the importance of representation and access in STEM fields, particularly veterinary medicine, where historically underrepresented groups have faced significant barriers to entry. By exposing students to role models and career opportunities they may have never considered, Bautista is helping to create pathways for talented individuals who can bring diverse perspectives to the profession.

The details

Bautista began volunteering with youth in Pasco in 2019, soon after earning her undergraduate degree and accepting a chemist position with the U.S. Department of Energy at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington. She saw that the lab's outreach efforts were concentrated in Richland, where students were already college-bound, and decided to take resources to Pasco, where more than 80% of the students in the school district are minorities, including many from economically disadvantaged households. Bautista has since continued her work with Pasco students while pursuing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at WSU, introducing them to STEM fields, helping them envision futures in higher education, and sparking their interest in careers like veterinary medicine.

  • Bautista began volunteering with youth in Pasco in 2019.
  • Bautista was recently recognized with a prestigious Merck Animal Health Diversity Leadership Scholarship in 2026.

The players

Anjelica Bautista

A second-year veterinary student at Washington State University who has dedicated her time to introducing grade-school students in Pasco, Washington, to STEM fields and expanding their understanding of higher education and careers in veterinary medicine.

John Blong

A WSU archaeologist who Bautista helped connect with a Pasco robotics club, leading to the team's advancement to a state-level competition and inspiring one member to pursue a career in archaeology.

Steve Lampa

The director of the Worthman-Johnson Veterinary Anatomy Teaching Museum at WSU who worked with Bautista to borrow anatomy specimens for an educational presentation in Pasco.

Heather Rae

A WSU alumna (DVM '14) who currently practices veterinary medicine in Kennewick, Washington, and has inspired Bautista's passion for spay and neuter services.

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What they’re saying

“Promoting equity begins with challenging the barriers that keep talented students from entering the field.”

— Anjelica Bautista, Veterinary student (dailyfly.com)

“The smallest shift in mindset can make such a difference. For many of these kids, their parents didn't go to a university. Some don't even know what a university is, but when you expose them to it and treat them like they are capable of going, it changes everything.”

— Anjelica Bautista, Veterinary student (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

This summer, a group of WSU veterinary students will volunteer at the animal shelter Bautista and her mother have built in the Philippines, which will provide spay and neuter services, community resources, and hands-on learning opportunities.

The takeaway

Bautista's work demonstrates the transformative impact that representation and access can have in inspiring underrepresented students to pursue careers in STEM fields, particularly veterinary medicine. By challenging the barriers that have historically kept talented students from entering the profession, she is helping to create a more diverse and inclusive future for the field.