• My VT
• VT News
• Campaign for Virginia Tech

By Marjorie Musick

Shelley Duke

LEESBURG, Va., October 5, 2007 -- Shelley Duke, owner and manager of Rallywood Farm in Middleburg, Va., has been named the first recipient of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center's Distinguished Service Award.

The accolade was established to recognize individuals who have generously and tirelessly provided leadership and expertise to help the equine medical center attain a higher level of achievement in service, teaching and research. The award was presented during a Sept. 13 meeting of the center’s council in recognition of Duke’s extraordinary dedication and exemplary volunteer service.

“Shelley is a friend, advocate, and leader for the equine medical center,” said Dr. Nat White, Jean Ellen Shehan Professor and Director. “Her enthusiasm, tremendous efforts and exceptionally high standards have contributed greatly to the hospital’s transformation into a premier equine healthcare and teaching facility, and this commendation is richly deserved.”

Duke, a member of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, has spent more than 20 years working towards the betterment of equine healthcare and veterinary programs at the university. She has served as chair of the center’s council since 1999 and is credited with establishing the hospital’s highly successful volunteer program.

“Growth is a dynamic experience when the result is being able to see and feel the fruits of one’s efforts,” said Duke. “I feel proud to represent the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center and am sincerely appreciative of this honor.”

Virginia Tech’s Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center is a premier full-service equine hospital located in Leesburg, Virginia, that offers advanced specialty care, 24-hour emergency treatment and diagnostic services for all ages and breeds of horses. One of three campuses that comprise the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, the center’s team of equine specialists is committed to providing exceptional treatment to patients, superior service to clients and cutting-edge research to the equine industry.

Contact Marjorie Musick at cleepr@vt.edu or (703) 771-6800.

##07532##