Shelby Hillebrandt never expected a trip to Auburn University would help confirm the future she had been struggling to define. Yet after spending time with veterinary students, practicing veterinarians and others who share her passion for animal care, the Carroll County High School Class of 2026 graduate returned home with a clear goal: becoming a veterinarian and serving rural Kentucky communities.
"I think I have a calling to veterinary medicine," Hillebrandt said.
Hillebrandt was one of just 15 Kentucky students selected this year for the Auburn Veterinary Mentorship Program, which connects high school and college students interested in veterinary medicine with Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Students remain in the program through college and gain access to educational experiences, networking opportunities and guidance as they prepare for veterinary school.
Agriculture teacher Justin Yount encouraged Hillebrandt to apply.
"All year he has pushed me to go to Auburn and said, 'You're going to be a vet,'" she said with a laugh. "I brushed him off all year, but I figured out he was right all along."
The spring event brought students from across Kentucky together at Auburn University. While Hillebrandt originally thought she would be working directly with large animals, she instead attended Vet Fest, an annual event hosted by the veterinary school.
"I got to see the school and spend more time learning about the college, which was just as good as working with animals," she said.
The experience gave her a closer look at veterinary education and the challenges facing the profession in Kentucky. Students met with Auburn faculty, current students and practicing veterinarians, including an Auburn graduate now working in Kentucky.
One topic that received significant attention was the shortage of veterinarians in rural communities.
"We need more rural veterinarians," Hillebrandt said. That need is one reason she hopes to eventually return to a rural area of Kentucky to practice. While she is not certain where she will settle, she knows there are communities that need veterinary services.
"I have family in Berea, and they have no large animal vet in the area for several miles," she said. "I do plan to come back to rural Kentucky."
The trip also helped Hillebrandt better understand the changing landscape of veterinary education in the Commonwealth. Kentucky currently does not have an accredited veterinary school, although Murray State University is developing facilities that could eventually support one. Auburn currently reserves 38 veterinary school seats each year for Kentucky students at in-state tuition rates, creating opportunities for aspiring veterinarians across the state.
The Auburn program arrived at a critical point in Hillebrandt's college decision process. Earlier this year, she was considering several career paths, including agricultural education and music. She auditioned at Campbellsville University and received a strong scholarship offer in music.
But, a visit to Murray State University left a lasting impression.
"I fell in love as soon as we drove on campus," she said. After careful consideration, Hillebrandt committed to Murray State, where she plans to major in pre-veterinary studies while continuing to participate in the Racer Band. She has played trumpet for many years in Carroll County bands, serving as the drum major this year.
"I love going to work at the vet’s office every day, and I love playing my trumpet every day, but I think I can make both work in a world I'll be happy with," she said.
Her interest in veterinary medicine extends beyond a simple love of animals. Hillebrandt currently works at the Carroll County Animal Clinic, where she has been able to learn from veterinarians, veterinary students and others entering the profession.
"It's not just like an 'I love animals' thing," she said. "I've always had a deep passion for animals and helping those without a voice."
She has also learned that veterinary medicine is as much about helping people as it is helping animals. "You can't be in the profession just for the animals," she said. "You have to help the people too."