AVC presents 2023 Green Hat Award to Ken and Dr. Teresa Mellish
The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at the University of Prince Edward Island proudly presented the 2023 Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Award to Mr. Ken and Dr. Teresa Mellish during the AVC’s annual Donor and Client Appreciation Night on Monday, November 27, 2023.
The highest recognition bestowed by AVC, the Green Hat Award is named for the Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Minister of Agriculture for Canada (1972–79 and 1980–84) who played a central role in the development and establishment of the College.
Established in 2000, the award acknowledges individuals and organizations that have made a substantial and positive impact on the College. With 26 awards granted since its inception, this honour remains a symbol of excellence within the AVC community.
“Ken and Teresa Mellish have had a tremendous impact on our doctor of veterinary medicine students and graduate students,” says Dr. John VanLeeuwen, interim dean, AVC. “For two decades, they have generously opened their horse farm to the AVC, providing students with invaluable real-world clinical experience.”
The Mellish’s interest in promoting the AVC extends globally to their work with Farmers Helping Farmers in Kenya. They volunteer with AVC students and faculty to enable Kenyan farmers to improve the health, productivity, and living conditions of dairy cattle. Their work also helps to provide education and best practices to the farming communities in areas of animal health, human health, and nutrition in the context of climate change impacts.
The duo was unable to attend the ceremony in person as they were in Kenya spearheading plans for a groundbreaking multi-million-dollar One Health project. This project aims to create more opportunities for volunteers, including AVC faculty and students, a fact they emphasized in a video message played for the audience attending the ceremony.
“Ken and Teresa’s work has directly resulted in improved lives and brighter futures for thousands of Kenyan farm families,” says Dr. VanLeeuwen. “Their dedication to seeing our students succeed, both at home and abroad, has made a lasting impact on all of us at the AVC, for which we are profoundly grateful.”
