Skip to Main Content

For the love of animals and the theater

Pursuit of passions helps student find community

 

“Isn’t that what college is truly about--
finding your community and discovering what you’re passionate about?”

 

For as long as she can remember, Renee Bippus, a rising sophomore in animal sciences with a pre-veterinary medicine concentration, has had two great loves: animals and theater.

“Since elementary school, I have known that veterinary medicine was for me. It was the thing I was most passionate about. But theater has always been a close second.”

Finding a way to pursue both interests during her time in college was paramount in Bippus’ decision to attend Purdue University.

Bippus knew that a career in veterinarian medicine, with a focus on companion pets, was her dream job. She was drawn to Purdue because of its veterinary program, “I loved the small, intimate size of the program and the hands-on learning opportunities available to students.”

Renee Bippus works with a beagle in the vet lab.

She also knew that she wanted theater to remain a lifelong hobby, “I wanted a university where I could grow and thrive in both passions and Purdue offered opportunities for that.”

Bippus says she grew “in more ways than one, ”during her first year at Purdue. There were times when she admitted to feeling overwhelmed.  “Coming from a small town it was daunting at first to be at such a large university with a rigorous schedule, but the communities I found had my back and supported me. That really kept me going and helped me feel part of something bigger than myself,” she said.

As she works at an internship this summer in a veterinary office in her home town, Bippus is looking forward to her second year at Purdue. She is excited to return to the communities with which she feels so connected. “It’s the people I have gotten to work with and know that have made it worthwhile.”

 

Meet Renee Bippus

bippus-with-dog-2.jpg
Hometown: Mount Vernon, Indiana
College: College of Agriculture
Major: Pre-Veterinary medicine in the Animal Sciences department
Notable Accomplishments: Purdue Veterinary Scholar

Fun Facts:

renee-sitting-on-stage.jpg
  • Bippus' love for theater began in the fourth grade when she performed in her first show, “The Little Mermaid.”
  • Bippus also joined the Farrowing Club at Purdue her freshman year and became certified.
  • Bippus plans to be a veterinarian with a focus on companion pets, specifically dogs and cats.

Bippus appeared in the following shows at Purdue University in 2022-2023:

bippus-in-play.jpg

  • “Twelfth Night Goeth Awry”
  • “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon”
  • “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play"
  • “Shakespeare in Love”

 

 

Featured Stories

Bryan Pijanoski with sound equipment
The sound of the world

It’s summer, but Bryan Pijanowski is as busy as ever. He’s working on several grant...

Read More
ag econ
Trey Malone named as Boehlje Chair in Managerial Economics for Agribusiness

“A business newspaper published an interview with me a few years ago titled, ‘Ag...

Read More
Purdue College of Agriculture.
Virtual Tour Brings Forest Management for the Birds to Life

How does forest management affect wildlife, specifically birds? Which birds prefer which types of...

Read More
Students on the Sweden study abroad trip stand in front of a church
FNR Field Reports: Lucas Cacula Offers Week 2 Update from Sweden Study Abroad Program

Throughout the 2024 Sustainable Natural Resources study abroad course in Sweden, FNR...

Read More
Wilford tends to Gracie the cow.
Fields of Discovery: From track to trough— leaping into research

This summer, Rieko Wilford is making big leaps researching methane emissions; on the track,...

Read More
Linda Prokopy
Horticulture and Landscape Architecture department head honored by Conservation Technology Information Center

Linda Prokopy, department head and professor of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue...

Read More
To Top