Winter 2015 Issue

by Lynne Haley, senior director of development

I first met David Bielski (’70 Comm.) in 2002 at a WSU Alumni Association Board meeting. He mentioned to me that he’d been to the college several times to talk about pet loss and his company, Petland Cemetery in Aberdeen, Washington. The business was started in 1973 by three partners—one was David’s father and another was Cougar alumnus Glenn Hilliard (’54 DVM). David took over the business in 1983 and has run it ever since with his wife Sandi. Sandi’s dad, Dr. J.R. Fuller (’50 DVM), is also an alumnus of the college.

David and Sandi knew they wanted to find a way to support veterinary students and honor her dad at the same time. The result was the Dr. J.R. Fuller Memorial Scholarship, which has helped 27 students since 2005. As David says, if it makes the difference between being able to stay in school or leaving for financial reasons, that is what the scholarship is all about.

We are so grateful to them and to the legacy they are passing to future Cougar veterinarians.