Support Khangelani's Veterinary School Dream

BlackDVM Network is an online platform dedicated to the empowerment of Black veterinary professionals providing community, resources, and opportunities for current and aspiring veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and students. We are dedicated to supporting our members in any way possible to achieve their goals, and we are on a mission to help one of our valued members, Khangelani Mhlanga, secure funding to cover the costs of her first year of vet school, despite the seemingly insurmountable financial hurdles placed before her due to her citizenship status.

About Khangelani

Khangelani was born and raised in Zimbabwe, and she is currently an ER Veterinary Assistant in Greater Boston, Massachusetts. She received her bachelor's degree in Biology 2022 from Ithaca College and has shown a passion for comparative medicine, One Health research, and finding sustainable solutions to mitigating human-wildlife conflict in communities that live in protected or underdeveloped areas.

The Journey

In her journey applying for vet school, Khangelani received offer letters from several schools, including Tufts, Cornell, Virginia-Maryland, UPenn, Michigan State, University of Melbourne in Australia, and Royal Veterinary College in London. Not many applicants receive admission to one program, let alone seven!

The Challenge

Here comes the challenging part: Khangelani is not a permanent resident of the United States and would be enrolling as an international student. As an international student, she must demonstrate proof of funds, whether through cash, bank statements, or grants, to cover at least the first year of her enrollment in a US veterinary program. Additionally, her immigration status prohibits her from obtaining loans without an eligible cosigner. To put this into perspective, the cost of attendance at UPenn is approximately $99,950, and at Tufts, it's around $93,000. Most of us can agree that providing proof of this amount of money is a daunting task, at best.

The Perseverance

Despite this massive financial roadblock, Khangelani has continued to pursue her dream of attending vet school, and in April 2024, she accepted an offer to Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, and we couldn't be prouder!

How You Can Help

Tufts has offered her a generous financial aid packet; however, she is still in need of $47,000 to cover the gap between the financial aid provided and the total cost of her first year. We ask that you join us in our mission of supporting Khangelani to achieve her dreams of attending veterinary school by donating today.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to read Khangelani's story and consider supporting her cause. Together, we can make a difference and turn her dream of becoming a veterinarian into a reality. Please share this fundraiser with your friends, family, and networks to help spread the word. Your kindness and generosity will forever be appreciated.