AAEP Bestows Inaugural Futurity Award Upon Colorado State Veterinary Student Kylie Yancey 

Kylie Yancey, a fourth-year veterinary student at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., received the first-ever Futurity Award from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).  

Established in 2025, the Futurity Award recognizes an AAEP student member who is making important contributions to the association or their peers through engagement within the AAEP, provision of service to peers or the association, and/or demonstration of future leadership potential. Kylie received her award Dec. 9 during the President’s Luncheon at the AAEP’s 71st Annual Convention in Denver, Colo.  

As president of her AAEP student chapter in the 2024–2025 academic year, Yancey prioritized mentorship, leadership development and professional growth opportunities. During her term, Yancey co-founded Giddyup, an equine mentorship program that pairs undergraduates with veterinary students for skill-building in horsemanship to strengthen veterinary school applications; oversaw more than 20 club-hosted events, including organization of a 29-student wet lab at an equine referral center; and led client communication and undergraduate participation in the annual castration clinic for the local equine community. As the club’s lecture coordinator the previous year, Yancey organized at least two lectures per month on clinical and wellbeing topics while integrating additional lectures on leadership.  

Beyond her AAEP student chapter contributions, Yancey spearheaded development of a new foal exam lab for the veterinary teaching hospital’s foal care team, increasing volunteer engagement and enhancing care of hospitalized foals. Yancey has organized veterinary student participation in a pair of Equitarian Initiative trips to serve the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota, and she also serves as veterinary care liaison to Vista Verde Ranch, educating employees, providing annual wellness care and advising on biosecurity protocols.  

Embracing professional advocacy, Yancey has helped shape policy discussions around the emerging midlevel practitioner role in Colorado by attending legislative panels, drafting recommendations to legislators, and advocating for species-specific constraints and supervision guidelines.  

“Keep an eye on Kylie—she will make a lasting impact on our profession, not only as a dedicated practitioner in her community but also as a driven leader and active contributor to our professional organizations,” said co-nominator Dr. Cara Wright.   

About AAEP  

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.