Kennel owner donates scholarship fund for McHenry County College's veterinary assistant program

The Reiland family of unincorporated McHenry has established a $2,500 scholarship for two veterinary assistant students at McHenry County College. The scholarship will cover half of the course fee for two students each semester.

The Reiland Family Veterinary Assistant Scholarship is the college’s first scholarship for a Workforce Training and Professional Programs course.

Kathy Reiland, owner of Gypsy Glen K-9 Kastle Pet Resort in McHenry, said she chose to offer the scholarship to the college partially because she is a former student.

"I've been in business for
30 years, and it's my way of giving back," Reiland said. "I took criminal justice classes at MCC when it was located in the old Pure Oil Building. I feel businesses should give back to the community."

Reiland, who has worked with dogs since age 8, has been active in dog-related training throughout her career. She is the former director of training for the Search and Rescue Dogs of Illinois and has partnered with the Illinois State Police to start the accelerant detection K-9 program. She also helped to start the K-9 unit at the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. In addition, she was active in local 4-H groups in McHenry County.

“We are thrilled to offer this veterinary assistant scholarship for the first time to our students in our rapidly growing program,” said Dori Sullens, director of MCC’s Continuing Education Department.

The McHenry County College vet assistant training is a noncredit training program that provides 150 hours of classroom training three days a week from Aug. 13 to Dec. 13. This program is one of three programs in Illinois recognized by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.

Students in the program also must complete 100 hours of externship time at one of 12 sites. Animal shelters can be a source of additional hours. Vet assistants work with veterinarians in private practice, animal shelters, animal control facilities, pet stores, kennels and veterinary drug companies.

The deadline to apply for the scholarship is July 1. To apply, visit www.mchenry.edu/veterinary.

For information about the scholarship, contact the Friends of MCC Foundation Office at 815-455-8721 or foundation@mchenry.edu. For information about the veterinary assistant program or other noncredit professional programs, contact Justin DeBolt at 815-479-7879 or jdebolt@mchenry.edu.