GRADUATION DAY FOR THE SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, MAY 4, 2002
Julie Annette Fairbank, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Saturday was "a rainy day in Georgia", Athens that is, but that did not deter the mood of those who were about to receive the fruit of their many hours and years of hard work and sweat, THE DEGREE. Those of us, who were there to support them in their hard work over the years, were equally not deterred by the weather.
On Friday, the preceding evening, there was a party set up by the four students who were especially tight the last four years, aiding and supporting each other through thick and thin, Julie Fairbank, Julie Gayer, Vanessa Dodson, and DeAnna Douglas. They came up with the idea of a party so that families and friends could get together before the BIG DAY. The party was held at the Magnolia Terrace, where Janet and Dave stayed for four nights. Naturally, it rained that evening too, just enough to necessitate bringing all the people and food inside. Of course we had to get permission from Dotty, the owner, and of course, she gave us the ok. There were about thirty five people there, mostly family of the four "docs to be". The rain let up after an hour or so, and a lot of people moved out onto the patio, making more room to move about inside. The party broke up around 9:00, early, but just long enough so that we could all meet each other, chat, eat, and have a couple drinks before going our own ways. Everyone helped out in the cleanup, (remember, it had been raining), we had tracked water inside and food got spread around some. We were all finished up when Dotty, the owner, came in and caught Dave with the broom in his hand. She knew right away that everything was going to be ok, and she quickly departed for the night.
Saturday was the big day for all of us, and with the rain (it was a Georgia downpour) pounding down, it made getting around a little testy. Once we got inside the auditorium where the ceremonies were to take place, we all settled down and relaxed. It was a beautiful new building and the inside smelled like a new car, it was that new, really! As you will see by the pictures, it was a good day for all of us. Sit back now, and enjoy the excitement of these unforgettable days for all of us...
These are the four spoken of earlier, (from the left), Julie Fairbank, Vanessa, DeAnna, and Julie...
|
Julie's other two moms, Brenda, from the admissions office
(left), and her landlady, |
Julie's two sets of parents, Dave and Janet, and Rich and Janece Rusk. (Rich is son of Dean Rusk) |
The sheet cake Julie F. had made for the party, no one wanted to make the first cut |
| Wild horses couldn't keep brother Rick away... |
Julie's best
"Pal" from Virginia Tech days, Megan Fakoury |
We were like one, big,
happy family... |
| The Graduation Auditorium | The University
of Georgia Brass Quartet Entertainment |
Recipients of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degrees are "queuing up"... |
| Julie being fitted with her "hood" | The
moment she has been waiting for since she was nine |
What a "happy camper" |
| A happy congrats, sister of mine | A supporting "Pal" | A special professor with husband |
| They made it!! With a
little help from each other. |
Two of the
proudest parents alive.. |
Julie's first opportunity as a
DVM, Appalachian Animal Hospital, Ellijay, Georgia |
Julie has the unique opportunity of not only serving in an occupation which she has dreamed of since she was nine years old, but she will be working side by side with four other doctors in a small animal hospital, and be in a position to possibly work with gorillas. The Appalachian Animal Hospital has a contract with a primate retirement preserve, ( http://www.gorilla-haven.org )a short distance from Ellijay, where the head DVM oversees the health of zoo primates. Julie's travel to Kenya, Africa in June of 2000, along with twenty five other veterinary students, veterinarians, and wildlife biologists, afforded her a tremendous learning experience, and a "yearn to return". Read about her travels to Africa at Vets_Role.html ...This opportunity to possibly work with primates, will be her opportunity to "return", so to speak...
