Stephanie Brown Receives 2025 Margi Sirois Veterinary Technician Educator of the Year Award
Press Release
Date: May 22, 2025
Contact: Lisa Garrett, lgarrett@tctc.edu
Stephanie Brown Receives 2025 Margi Sirois Veterinary Technician Educator of the Year Award
PENDLETON, SC -- Stephanie Brown, a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) and director for Tri-County Technical College’s Veterinary Technology program, is the recipient of the 2025 Margi Sirois Veterinary Technician Educator of the Year award.
Brown, who was selected from nominees across the United States and Canada, will be honored at the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE) annual conference August 1 – 3 in Kentucky.
The award honors the memory and legacy of Margi Sirois, EdD, MS, VT, LAT, a fierce advocate for advancing veterinary technology and veterinary technician educators and a past president of the AVTE.
The award is presented annually to a credentialed technician educator who has demonstrated exceptional strength in representing veterinary technicians in the field of education and exemplifies work toward advancing the field of veterinary technology.
This is the second time Brown has been honored by the AVTE. Last year Brown was the only veterinary technician educator in South Carolina accepted into the inaugural class of the AVTE Fellows.
“I am truly honored and deeply humbled to accept the 2025 Margi Sirois Veterinary Technician Educator of the Year award,” said Brown. “To be recognized among so many exceptional educators across the United States and Canada is an incredible privilege, and I am especially proud to receive an award that celebrates the enduring legacy of Dr. Margi Sirois, a pioneer, leader, and tireless advocate for veterinary technician education,” she said.
“Throughout my 21 years of teaching at Tri-County Technical College, and as a graduate of this very program, my goal has always been to inspire, challenge, and support the next generation of veterinary technicians. I have been fortunate to work with extraordinary students, dedicated colleagues, and community partners who continually fuel my passion for both veterinary medicine and education. This award is not only a personal milestone, but also a reflection of the collaborative efforts that have shaped our Veterinary Technology program. To receive this award from AVET is truly meaningful. I am inspired to continue pushing boundaries in veterinary technology education and to honor this recognition by further advancing the profession that has given me so much.”
A self-proclaimed lifelong learner in teaching and veterinary medicine, Brown seeks every opportunity to advance her knowledge and skills and to adapt to ever-changing practices in the profession of veterinary medicine.
In her nomination letter, 2020 Veterinary Technology alumna Kaylyn Durham, LVT, who is an adjunct instructor for the program, said, “Stephanie’s innovative approach to learning and improvement of the program led her to create two new courses to enhance student outcomes on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), the national credentialing exam. Tri-County graduates must pass the VTNE before they are eligible to take the state licensure written exam. The VTNE is administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. The first-time pass rate for TCTC students on the VTNE has shown consistent improvement, thanks in part to the introduction of VET 290 Senior Integrated Learning, a capstone course implemented in fall 2020, Durham said. “This course has played a significant role in better preparing students for the exam by reinforcing core concepts and strengthening their test taking skills,” Durham wrote in her nomination.
Since 2014, Brown has served as the faculty advisor for the TCTC student chapter of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). Last year the students brought home the first-place award for its Student Community Involvement Project—a pet adoption event held each semester—at the South Carolina Technical Education Association (SCTEA) conference.
There are three Veterinary Technology programs among the state’s 16 technical colleges and TCTC is the only one with public pet adoptions.
The annual pet adoption event provides clinical learning experiences and enables students to develop competencies while addressing the overwhelming problem of animal overpopulation. In 2007, public pet adoptions were incorporated into the curriculum and today it’s one of the many ways students make a difference for the College and the community.
Each semester the department takes in up to 38 dogs and 24 cats from shelters, humane societies, rescues and sanctuaries. From 2021 to 2024, the program partnered with 10 agencies to provide essential medical services to animals at no cost.
Under the supervision and guidance of the College’s veterinarians and LVTs, students use their acquired knowledge and hands-on skills to perform procedures that benefit each animal. In addition, each student is assigned an animal that they train and socialize, transforming them into a highly adoptable pet.
Three times a year, public pet adoption events are held on campus for the shelter cats and dogs that have been cared for during the semester as part of the program.
On average, the program provides medical are to more than 150 animals each year. By performing spay and neuter procedures on these animals, the program helps to prevent the birth of more than 26,000 unwanted animals, many of whom would otherwise end up I n overcrowded shelters. This collaboration not only provides critical services to the community but also offers invaluable hands-on experience for students, preparing them to make a meaningful impact in the veterinary field.
Recently Brown collaborated with a rescue organization that transports animals by car or airplane to northern shelters where there is a high demand for adoptable pets. “The program provides the necessary medical care and health certificates to ensure these animals are safely transported to their new homes. This partnership allows us to save animals at risk of euthanasia, process them with critical veterinary care, and gives them a second chance with families who are eager to adopt. Through this initiative, our students not only gain valuable hands-on experience, but also learn to think creatively and explore innovative solutions that benefit both local shelters and most importantly, the animals in need,” said Durham.
Brown also collaborates with the Greenville Zoo to provide essential equipment and expertise that enhance animal care, said Durham. “While the zoo’s animal ambassadors receive exceptional veterinary attention, its small size sometimes limits access to certain diagnostic tools. Stephanie arranges for us to bridge this gap by supplying equipment and skilled professionals to assist with procedures, and in return, the zoo offers TCTC students exclusive behind-the-scenes tours, job shadowing, and externship opportunities. Additionally, the diagnostics performed through the partnership have contributed to presentations at global zoo conferences, showcasing the meaningful impact collaboration has on advancing animal care and education.”
Brown, who has taught at the College for 21 years, is a 1992 alumna of TCTC’s Veterinary Technology program and worked as a licensed veterinary technician in private practice for 13 years. She was named Veterinary Technician of the Year in 1998 by the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians.
In 2010 she received TCTC’s Adjunct Faculty Presidential Award. This award is given annually at the spring faculty/staff convocation to the adjunct faculty member who is recognized for excellence in teaching, who has consistently high student evaluations and who supports the philosophy and goals of the College.
This year Brown was chosen to review the latest edition of “Large Animal Clinical Procedures for Veterinary Technicians” published by Elsevier. In 2017 she reviewed the newest edition of “Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians” and was a reviewer for the 2018 “Lavins Radiography for Veterinary Technicians,” sixth edition, also published by Elsevier.
“Whenever I’m asked to talk about Stephanie Brown, the Veterinary Technician’s Oath instantly comes to mind,” said Ashley Brady, department head for Veterinary Technology at TCTC. The oath reads, ‘I solemnly dedicate myself to aiding animals and society by providing excellent care and services for animals, by alleviating animal suffering, and by promoting public health. I accept my obligations to practice my profession conscientiously and with sensitivity, adhering to the profession’s Code of Ethics, and furthering my knowledge and competence through a commitment to lifelong learning.’
“The powerful words within that oath perfectly reflect the character and professionalism of Stephanie. It is truly an honor to work alongside such an extraordinary person each day,” said Brady.
Brown lives in Pickens with her husband, Johnny.
There are more than 200 veterinary technology programs in the nation. TCTC’s program ranks in the upper top 10 in the nation, according to their accreditation team during the program’s last inspection. TCTC’s program, which is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), is endorsed by the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians.
About Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College, a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties in South Carolina, enrolls more than 9,000 students annually and offers more than 70 major fields of study, including computer technology, industrial electronics, mechatronics, nursing, and university transfer programs. Tri-County boasts the highest student success rate among two-year colleges in the state and ranks in the top one percent nationally for successful student transfers to four-year colleges and universities. To learn more, visit tctc.edu.
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