Equine Science Center honors David Meirs II

Laurel A. Van Leer, of the Rutgers Alumni Association (l-r), Sandra Denarski, chair of the Rutgers University Board for Equine Advancement, Dr. David A. Meirs II, of Upper Freehold, Dr. Karyn Malinowski, director of the Equine Science Center, Caroline Meirs, who is David Meirs' wife, and Mary Ann Meirs, who is David Meirs' daughter, take part in an award ceremony during which the Equine Science Center honored Meirs for his years of service.

UPPER FREEHOLD - Walnridge Farmowner Dr. DavidA.Meirs II has been recognized for his involvement in the growth and development of the equine science programat RutgersUniversity inNew Brunswick.

The faculty, students and staff of the Equine Science Center at Rutgers honored Meirs during the center's Equine Science Update Dec. 11, according to a press release fromthe Equine Science Center.

The Equine ScienceUpdate is an annual event during which the center shares its research on horse health and management issues with the public. During the segment that highlighted Meirs'work, Laurel A. Van Leer, a prominent alumna and member of the Rutgers Board of Trustees; Sandy Denarski, current chair of the Rutgers University Board for EquineAdvancement; and Dr.KarynMalinowski, director of theEquine Science Center, presented the local veterinarian with a Kilmer Oak pen.

The rare writing instrument was handcrafted fromone of the few remaining pieces of themassive oak tree that once grewon the Cook College campus at Rutgers and had served as the inspiration forNewBrunswick native Joyce Kilmer's poem"Trees."

Meirs,who received aBachelor of Science degree from Rutgers in 1950, has been involved in the growth and development of the university's equine science programand outreach since the 1960s and also helped organize the school's first equine advisory board.He served aswell on RutgersUniversity search committees for faculty and deans and spearheaded fundraising campaigns for the school. In addition, he was chairman of theRutgersUniversityBoard forEquineAdvancement.

Among hismany university-related honors, Meirs received the George H. Cook DistinguishedAlumniAward in 2000.

His professional achievements include being founder and partner in theWalnridge Equine Clinic, a general equine practice geared toward racehorses in training, with special emphasis in reproduction. He is also president of Upper Freehold's Walnridge Farm Inc., a 300-acre facility that has been in theMeirs/Waln family since 1830 and specializes in breeding and raising standardbred horses.

Meirs has heldmany community posts as well, including membership and leadership roleswith the StateBoard ofAgriculture, the Horse Park of New Jersey, the New Jersey Board of VeterinaryMedical Examiners, the EquineAdvisory Board, theAmericanAssociation ofEquine Practitioners, theNewJersey Equine Practitioners Association, the New Jersey VeterinaryMedicalAssociation, the New Jersey Sire Stakes Board of Directors and the American Veterinary Medical Association. He has also been the recipient of various academic, county and state awards.