CAAS Valedictorian Studies, Researches, Sews His Way to Vet School

When Jeremy Case decided to leave his home in Twin Falls, Idaho, for Utah State University, his plan was to major in molecular biology. Now he’s graduating as the College of Agriculture Applied Sciences’ Class of 2025 valedictorian with a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology, minors in biology and chemistry, and a certificate of proficiency in fashion studies.

He will use his acquired knowledge and skills this fall at Oregon State University where he will work toward his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

Despite the demanding requirements of the biotechnology program and the extensive animal and veterinary experience needed to get into vet school, Case wasn’t originally focused on either field. Instead, he came to USU with different career goals.

“I wanted to be a biomedical researcher,” Case said. “I’d learned that undergraduates could do research at USU by applying for the Undergraduate Research Fellowship, so I did, and I got in. They provided a whole bunch of resources for me to pursue research.”

That research took the form of work with Professor Abby Benninghoff, head of the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences. She and the other members of her lab investigate the connections between diet, the gut microbiome, and conditions like colitis and colon cancer. Case’s project within the lab was to find a way to simulate the gut microbiome outside of a human body so that researchers could directly observe how cells respond to different compounds. Despite significant challenges, explained Benninghoff, Case succeeded.

“His Honors Capstone project tackled a notoriously difficult research question,” she said, “and when faced with limited resources, he improvised by building his own anaerobic culture system ‘MacGyver-style’ to keep the science moving forward.”

The time spent in the Benninghoff Lab made Case realize that while he enjoyed the theory behind molecular biology, he also had a passion for applying the science in the real world, so he changed his major to biotechnology. He also decided he would apply to vet school, and that meant stacking classes to ensure he could apply in his junior year.

Unfortunately, Case was too effective at packing his schedule for his own good, and his adviser informed him that he wouldn’t have enough credits to take for his final three semesters unless he took classes outside his major. That’s when the idea of earning a certificate in fashion studies occurred to him.

“I learned how to sew in a sixth-grade home economics class,” Case said. “I did some minor projects until a 4-H leader noticed that I was kind of bored and taught me how to quilt as well. At USU, I heard from friends in Outdoor Product Design and Development that there were a lot of great sewing and apparel classes here, and while clothing scared me because it’s so complicated, I decided to take those courses. Now I can design my own clothing from the ground up. It’s a very rewarding process and a great creative outlet for me as a STEM major.”

Case’s work on his certificate culminated in a “Black-and-White Ball” collection exhibited at USU’s Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, including a Regency era-inspired tailcoat made from 100% Merino worsted wool with a satin lining and facings, a matching gabardine waistcoat, and a ball gown made completely from upcycled materials.

“It's nice to exhibit all of my hard work,” he said. “It’s kind of a pinnacle experience as a designer. Hopefully, it won't be my last fashion show.”

Case is sometimes met with skepticism when he mentions his fashion certificate and, with his pivot to veterinary medicine, his bachelor’s degree and the certificate are not a typical path to his chosen career. What’s more, he argues, a degree offers more than just employment opportunities.

“I feel like education is about empowering yourself,” Case said. “While being prepared for the workforce is an aspect of that, I feel like education is more for the soul. It's for growing personally.”

When Case wasn’t studying for his major, working in the lab, drafting patterns and sewing for his certificate, or taking some of the college’s many large animal courses to meet the requirements for vet school, he enjoyed hiking and skiing, the latter of which he learned to do in earnest while at Utah State. He was also part of the USU’s equestrian teams — English for his first year and Western for the following two years.

“I was a competitive jumper, so I went over fences at various heights,” Case said. “We also focused on horsemanship. We were graded on our position as well as the quality and fluidity of the pattern, which is a series of predetermined maneuvers. It's a true test of communication with the horse since you don't know the animal prior to getting on it and instead work it out as you go.”

Case qualified to represent USU in the national collegiate competition for the sport, but unfortunately, he wasn’t able to attend.

“There was a slight logistical issue,” he said. “I was studying abroad in Tanzania at that time, so I couldn’t go, but I was proud that I was able to qualify and place fourth at the semifinals in Michigan. It was a peak moment for me as an athlete.”

Just as Case’s undergraduate plans proved to be fluid, he’s leaving his options open after he graduates from vet school.

“I’d love to stay in the Pacific Northwest,” Case said. “It's absolutely gorgeous, and I’d like to get some practice in an emergency room somewhere like Portland. But I might go to a place like New Zealand, Kenya or Tanzania to work on exotic animals. Eventually, I want to become a professor and teach at a university while also practicing on the side. We'll see what the future holds.”

When asked if he’d encourage others to follow more than one academic path, Case advises students to go for it.

“You only have around four years of college,” he said. “Your time here is precious. Don't stretch yourself too thin but definitely pursue your dreams.”