Colby Community College has announced the selection of Dr. Beth Fenton to be an instructor in the recently-approved distance learning veterinary technology program. Dr. Fenton, a licensed Kansas veterinarian, received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Kansas State University in 1989. She is also licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Dr. Fenton was a registered nurse prior to becoming a veterinarian. She graduated from Washburn University in Topeka with her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Prior to a accepting the job at CCC, she was an associate veterinarian at the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program in New Hill, N.C.

Wendi Ehlers has been selected as the administrative assistant for the distance learning program. She has over 20 years of general office experience including four years in higher education. Ehlers was a Loan Support Representative at First National Bank in Goodland from 2009-11. Prior to accepting that position, she was a distance education assistant at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, Wyo.

The distance learning veterinary technology program will begin offering online classes in March 2012. Students in the program will complete traditional classroom course work online and will gain hands-on experience with animals such as dogs, cats, horses, cattle, rabbits, rodents and birds in veterinary hospitals.

The Veterinary Technology Program at CCC is one of the first established in the nation. It began in 1969 and was fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in 1974. The program has maintained full accreditation since that time. It is the only program in Kansas fully accredited by the AVMA. Students enrolled in the program are exposed to many advanced skills including digital radiology. The on-campus program was the first in the nation to train veterinary technician students on in-house adipose stem cell therapy.