The AAVSB Announces Recipient of 2026 VTNE Celebrating Diversity Award
Overland Park, KS (May 21, 2026) – The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) announces the 2026 VTNE Celebrating Diversity Award recipient. Congratulations to Mikaela McComas, a second-year veterinary technology student at Massasoit Community College (MCC) in Brockton, Massachusetts.
The Veterinary Technician National Examination® Celebrating Diversity Award honors a graduating veterinary technology/nursing student from an underrepresented minority group who is helping shape a more inclusive future for the profession. Recipients are chosen for their dedication to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion—and for the compassion, respect, and dignity they extend to everyone they encounter.
About Mikaela
Originally from Central Pennsylvania, Mikaela earned her bachelor’s degree in animal behavior from Juniata College before enrolling in Massasoit Community College’s veterinary technology program. In her essay to the VTNE Celebrating Diversity Award Selection Committee, she wrote, “As an African American who has lived in five different states, completed multiple collegiate programs, and worked in a variety of professional fields, I have seen firsthand how certain demographics can be underrepresented.”
She also described her time at the San Diego Zoo, noting, “I consistently felt that I didn’t deserve to be there,” and adding, “This was affirmed by having my name mixed up with the other two African American members of the department on multiple occasions even after working there for almost a year.”
“I believe creating a more inclusive and diverse workplace begins with openly sharing your own experiences. Doing so helps others feel safe and comfortable sharing theirs, fostering open dialogue and encouraging meaningful conversations across the workplace.”
Mikaela believes the best way to foster a more inclusive and diverse work culture is by sharing her experiences and encouraging others to do the same—like the day she spoke with an intern who was also African American. “He told me that I was the first African American he had seen working as a zookeeper and that made him more comfortable pursuing a career in the field, because he thought, ‘If she could do it, I could do it too.’”
Future Plans
When asked which area of veterinary medicine she plans to pursue, Mikaela said she’s still exploring her options. She recently completed two internships—one with exotic animals and another at a small‑animal dermatology clinic. Reflecting on her time at the clinic, she explained, “While we generally knew what to expect on a daily basis, we often got interesting and unique cases that tested my skills and knowledge as a technician.”
“My hope for the veterinary field is for the creation of communities where people can discuss their experiences and feel seen and heard by all types of people. Ultimately, the more individuals of different races, genders, pronouns, etc. are represented within a field, the more comfortable and accepted those people will feel.”
While her veterinary path is still taking shape, Mikaela is already committed to fostering a more inclusive and diverse work culture, saying, “I plan to make myself available as an advocate for diversity and inclusion, offering support and actively listening to colleagues who may face experiences similar to my own.” As former president of the Big Brothers Big Sisters club at Juniata College and treasurer of the MCC student chapter of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians, she engaged with people from a wide range of backgrounds. Drawing on those interactions, she said, “I plan to bring these experiences into my veterinary technician career to promote a willingness to learn from others, understand personal biases, treat people as individuals and not as stereotypes, and work to appreciate other cultural perspectives.”
To find out more about our annual VTNE awards, including the VTNE Celebrating Diversity Award and the VTNE Program Director’s Award, visit the VTNE Annual Awards page.
About the AAVSB: The AAVSB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen the veterinary regulatory community. The membership of the AAVSB consists of 63 jurisdictions representing all of the United States and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the ten Canadian provinces.