< PreviousAn Alabama native, Starr Hutcherson landed at Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) via a college football career at Morehead State University in Kentucky, where he earned his bache- lor’s degree in pre-veterinary medicine. HE’S GLAD HE DID. “I am in the perfect place for veteri- nary medicine. The clinicians and profes- sors are friendly and personable,” Hutch- erson said. “I knew it would be tough, but everyone is here to help me succeed and be the best doctor I can be.” DISCOVERING HIS DIRECTION In his first year of vet school, neurolo- gy was the class that grabbed Hutcher- son’s attention the most. “When I first arrived at Auburn, I had no interest in neurology. I had heard horror stories that the subject was hard and com- plicated, but I kept an open mind,” he said. “And it just clicked; I fell in love with it.” Hutcherson now plans for neurology to be his specialty, with the goal of be- coming a neurosurgeon. MENTORSHIP AT ITS FINEST One professor has helped Hutch- erson further pursue this direction, Dr. Kathy Gerken. CVM contacts incoming students before they arrive on campus, offering them the option of having a mentor. Hutcherson accepted and was assigned Gerken. The two ended up having simi- lar interests. They discovered a mutual fondness for Star Wars and anime, and the relationship was launched. “Mentors sign up willingly, and that’s why we bonded quickly,” Hutcherson said. “We had a willingness to work to- gether.” Gerken and Hutcherson meet regularly to talk and hang out. Gerken also has connected Hutcher- son with the appropriate practitioners to explore his interest in neurology. Drs. Tom Jukier and Amy Yanke are neurologists who also serve as mentors to Hutcherson. AN ACTIVE LEADER, LEARNER Hutcherson is a big advocate of CVM’s Summer VIP (Veterinary In- tensive Program). He was a counselor in 2022’s inaugural program year and served as the student coordinator for this year’s program. Summer VIP engages undergraduate students who demonstrate an interest in veterinary medicine but may not have ac- cess to veterinary experiences. Ten partic- ipants were provided housing, travel costs and equipment and offered as much ex- posure to the field as possible in one week. Program highlights included a back- stage tour of the Georgia Aquarium vet- erinary facilities for penguins, stingrays and beluga whales with Dr. Greg Scott. Participants also met Dr. Vernard Hodg- es and Dr. Terrence Ferguson of the Dis- ney+ show, “Critter Fixers: Country Vets.” Preparing logistics for the event took Hutcherson eight months. “I had to bal- ance my second-year classes and plan- ning for VIP. It was a lot, and I thank God I was able to keep myself grounded. I hope to do next year’s VIP program as a clinical student.” EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING This year, Hutcherson worked in the laboratory of Dr. Maria Naskou, with the support of the Lauren G. and Virginia I. Wolfe Endowed Fellowship, and pre- sented his research at the 2023 Veteri- nary Scholars Symposium, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, in Puerto Rico. Hutcherson also participated in CVM’s Veterinary Summer Scholars Program for the past two summers. He was president and is cur- rently an active mem- ber of the Surgery Club, an educational club hosting lunch meetings where cli- nicians speak about small animal or equine surgical procedures or wet labs where mem- bers can practice sur- gical skills. Jobs at CVM’s Small Animal Surgery Unit and Equine ICU Unit enable Hutch- erson to apply what he is learning in the classroom to cases he sees in the hospi- tal, working as a technician. ‘WEIRD NEURO GUY’ Hutcherson is clear on his goals. Once he earns his Doctor of Veterinary Medi- cine degree at Auburn, he will pursue a residency in neurology, with the goal of joining an established clinic. He might even return to a university later in his ca- reer to teach students. “I will take that badge of honor being the weird neuro guy in my class because I feel like that’s where I am being called. First-year neuro motivated me to pursue beyond the degree and go into a special- ty,” Hutcherson said. He is well on his way. UNIVERSITY NEWS BY AMY BURTCH 50 UNIVERSITY NEWS AUBURNTIGERS.COM Starr Hutcherson found his place and purpose in Auburn’s College of Veteri- nary Medicine. He plans for neurology to be his specialty, with the goal of becoming a neurosurgeon. Starr Hutcherson, right, found a mentor in Dr. Kathy Gerkin, left, in Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The pair have similar interests and a mutual fondness for Star Wars and anime. FROM FOOTBALL TO FURRY FRIENDS: ALABAMA NATIVE FINDS PLACE, PASSION IN AUBURN’S COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINECardiacandVascularAwards from EastAlabamaMedicalCenteristheONLYhospital inAlabamatobeamongthetop5% ofhospitalsnationwideforcardiacsurgery! 2023Women'sChoiceAwardsBestHospitalsfor CancerCare,Orthopedics,andObstetrics Congratulationstoourstaff forearningtheseprestigiousawards! ServingOpelika,Auburn,Valleyandan11-countycoveragearea52 ON THE PLAINS WITH OSCAR CHAPMAN Oscar Chapman hails from Adelaide, South Australia, more than 9,000 miles away from Auburn. Growing up, he visit- ed the United States one time and made stops in cities like Nashville and Mem- phis. He couldn’t get over how busy it was. Even for him coming from the fifth- most populous city in Australia. However, when the opportunity to come to Auburn presented itself, the town and the university brought a differ- ent perspective of the States to both him and his family. “When I came to Auburn, everyone was so nice,” Chapman said. “I can walk into any restaurant or shop, and everyone is smiling and talking. It was that feeling of just family. My family has come over a couple times to see me play, and they always say how everyone is lovely. That was a big point for me. I want my family to feel comfortable in another country and when they come to see me play. This is the place that does that for them.” Chapman began his athletic career playing Australian rules football, which is completely different from the Amer- ican version. His career was cut short, though, after he suffered a serious leg injury. It sidelined him from the sport he had been playing his whole life. “That injury set me back about six months. They said that if I continued to play, I wouldn’t be able to play at the lev- el I wanted to,” Chapman said. “I kind of lost the love I had for that sport. I knew I had to really figure out what I’m going to do in life.” That’s when American football came into the picture. “My dad heard on the radio that an Australian had just signed in the NFL as a punter and we started looking into a football program in Australia,” Chap- man said. “I thought that I should give it a crack because I wanted that more educated pathway rather than just pro- fessional sports. There were always the potential benefits of going further in the sport, but to get that degree on scholar- ship and get an experience is something I would never forget.” Chapman signed with Auburn and be- came the second straight punter to come to the Plains from Australia after working with Prokick Australia, following in the footsteps of fellow Aussie Arryn Siposs. Now entering his fourth season as Auburn’s starting punter, Chapman has made a name for himself not only within the conference, but in the nation as well as he has continued to perfect his craft. He ranked second in the SEC as a soph- omore in 2021 averaging 44.1 yards per kick. Last season, he finished fourth in the conference with a 43.8 average. His career average of 43.4 ranks fourth all- time in Auburn history. “I didn’t have the greatest first year, but was learning a lot,” Chapman recalled. “After that first season, the nerves were gone, and it was more of having fun and just kicking the ball. I felt more comfort- able with myself and just kept working. Building that confidence allowed me to keep going and just get better and better.” While at Auburn, there was one team- mate in particular who Chapman relied upon to help him adjust and continue to get better: kicker Anders Carlson. “He was a really good teammate, and I learned a lot from him,” Chapman said. “He brought so much wisdom be- cause he’d been here for a while and had played a lot of football. Every time he said something, I listened.” With Carlson off to the NFL, it is time for Chapman to take what he’s learned – not only from his former teammate but also his experiences over the last three years – and apply it on the field. “I want to help lead our special teams unit this year,” he said. “We’ve got some really good guys and a lot of young guys, and I want bring them along with me as we go through the season.” Not unlike what Carlson did for Chap- man. But being that leader is not the only goal for Chapman this coming season. He wants to be the last man standing for the Ray Guy Award, given annually to college football’s best punter. “Last season, I was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy,” Chapman said. “I really want to win that one this year, and I feel really good about it. There are some good punters out there, but I feel good about where I’m at and am working hard to finish on top in my position.” There is a lot on the horizon for the Australian product. He’s finishing his de- gree in accounting while also preparing for the next level of American football. “If I get that opportunity for the next level, it’ll just be icing on the cake for me,” Chapman, multi-year member of the SEC academic honor roll, said. “Coming here, I’ll have four fantastic years of studying, playing football and meeting many great friends.” On top of all that, Chapman and his fiancé Chloe plan on getting married in early 2025. But before his life post-Auburn un- folds, Chapman wants to finish strong and continue the tradition of special teams success on the Plains. He wants to leave his mark. “We’ve had some really great kickers, snappers and punters here at Auburn,” Chapman said. “I really want to keep that legacy of us having really high-quality specialists going. I’d love to continually see the top punters and kickers in the nation come here. Keeping that rhythm of talent is important because we just do it really well.” ON THE PLAINS WITH OSCAR CHAPMAN BY KENDRA WILLARD AUBURNTIGERS.COM WORKING HARD TO FINISH ON TOPDINE IN // DELIVERY // CURBSIDE // CATERING Opelika 2664 Enterprise Drive, Opelika, AL 36801 GO TIGERS!54 2023 STADIUM MAP 2023 STADIUM MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM SOUTH CLUB BROADWAY CLUB NORTH CLUB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 14 14 13 151617181920 383940414243 3744 44 45 46 46 36 37 35 35 21 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 100 99 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 AUBURN VISITOR 23 23 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 9 8U 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 20 21 BILL & CONNIE NEVILLE LOBBY 0 EXIT GATE STUDENT GATE STUDENT GATE EAST UPPER DECK ACCESS ONLY SOUTH SERVICE GATE FOOTBALL RECRUITING SOUTH DONAHUE DRIVE HEISMAN DRIVE HD VIDEOBOARD NEVILLE ARENA MIKE & JANE McCARTNEY BRICK PLAZA TICKET OFFICE SALES & PICK-UP GAMEDAY TRANSIT & FANFEST (NS PASS) NORTH STADIUM LOT VISITOR TICKET SALES HARBERT FAMILY RECRUITING CENTER AUBURN PLAYER GUEST EXIT GATEVISITING TEAM LOCKER ROOM SUITE TICKET PICK-UP STUDENT GATE SOUTH NORTH WEST EAST BROADWAY CLUB & MEDIA CREDENTIALS TIGER WALK CLUB ENTRANCE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES 11 10 TIGERWALK TICKET SALES TICKET SALES BROADWAY CLUB ONLY HRC ONLY ADA SHUTTLE PICKUP 1U VISITING PLAYER GUEST & VISITING FAN TICKET PICK-UP ADA SHUTTLE PICKUP NORTH SERVICE GATE OLYMPIC SPORT RECRUITING Entry GateElevator First Aid Tiger Babies LEGEND Charging Station Student Section Seating bowl closed to non-students Team Shop Medical Bag Entry Special Access Statues Guest Services ADA Shuttle56 2023 AUBURN PARKING MAP 2023 AUBURN PARKING MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM2023 AUBURN PARKING MAP LEGEND 57 2023 AUBURN PARKING LEGEND AUBURNTIGERS.COM© 2022 Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. 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