Utah State University Senior Awarded The Dawn Stewart Memorial Scholarship

August 13, 2023 – Utah State University’s Nick Morrow was a recipient of the inaugural Dawn Stewart Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the National Alpaca Foundation.

Livestock breeders throughout the United States are experiencing a shortage of large animal veterinarians. Further, there is a great need for veterinarians who specialize in the care of camelids, specifically alpacas.

The Dawn Stewart Memorial Scholarship presents $3000 to students currently enrolled in their second, third, or fourth year of an accredited veterinary school and demonstrate an interest in camelid animal medicine. Scholarship funds are only awarded to support education at U.S. based institutions that offer a camelid (Alpaca) program or classes supporting alpaca animal health.

Morrow, of Lehi UT, has known he wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as he can remember.

Morrow’s love for alpacas started in 2014 when he was given the task of looking after a small herd of huacaya alpacas at a local farm. Through this work, he learned a lot from the farm owner.

“But perhaps the best way I learned about them was by sitting down in their pen and just observing their behaviors,” said Morrow.

A few years later, Morrow began traveling throughout the country teaching alpaca behavior and training seminars as well as doing private alpaca training sessions. He teamed up with Dr. Charmian Wright, an alpaca veterinarian in Park City, UT. After graduation from veterinary school, Morrow will join her practice and continue the legacy that she has created.

“My passion for large animal medicine has also led to me creating the world’s largest camel gastrointestinal parasite database,” said Morrow. “Under direction of Dr. Wright, I’ve been tracking 300 camels in the United States over the last five years. As I’ve sorted through and analyzed 1,185 fecal tests that I have performed on them, there are many scientific questions that are being answered.”

Morrow’s hope is that his findings can cross over and benefit the alpaca industry.

Morrow will attend Washington State University in the Fall.

About The Dawn Stewart Memorial Scholarship

The formation of the National Alpaca Foundation was announced in 2023 National Alpaca Education & Fiber Conference. The foundation is a designated 501(c)(3) non-profit tax-exempt organization whose mission is to engage in educational activities, youth development activities, and other charitable and scientific activities relating to alpacas.

One of the flagship programs established by the foundation is The Dawn Stewart Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship honors the legacy of Dawn Stewart, a passionate advocate for alpacas. In Eagle Eye Farm (River Falls, WI), she found her true calling. She grew the farm to 110 animals - including alpacas, llamas, kune kune pigs, Valais Blacknose sheep, mini Highland cattle, English Angora bunnies, and an eclectic mix of chickens. Dawn felt a true connection with the animals. She was a natural in the show ring and led Eagle Eye Farm to be named the #1 farm in the country by the Alpaca Owners Association in the small farm division for 2022 and in the medium farm division in 2023. She and her wife, Kerri Harting, were also featured on Going Fur Gold, a National Geographic Wild production in 2023.

Dawn sadly passed suddenly in May 2023.

Dawn was so proud of the farm and all she had accomplished – taking a once abandoned piece of property and turning it into a thriving and very active award-winning alpaca farm, doing a majority of the work herself and overseeing every project.

Dawn and Kerri, as well as livestock breeders throughout the United States, have experienced first-hand the shortage of large animal veterinarians. Further, there is a greater need for veterinarians who specialize in care and nutrition of camelids, specifically alpacas.

This fund will provide financial assistance to aspiring large animal veterinarians with a specific focus on alpacas.

The deadline for the 2025 $3,000 scholarship application must be postmarked by May 1, 2025. The application can be found at www.nationalalpacafoundation.org/dawn-stewart-memorial-scholarship

The National Alpaca Foundation is a designated 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization, whose mission is to engage in educational activities, youth development activities, and other charitable and scientific activities relating to alpacas. For continued updates about the foundation, visit www.facebook.com/alpacafoundation/