Student Spotlight: Andrew Taylor '26

Andrew Taylor ’26 has exemplified the Perkiomen School motto of Solvitur vivendo – it is solved through living.

To pursue his dream to become a veterinarian, Taylor knew he needed hands-on experience with animals to apply for veterinary school. Many young people log those hours on a family farm, but for Taylor, another option was necessary. 

Ready to progress and knowing he needed more experience, Taylor applied to more than 20 veterinary-related organizations throughout the area but had no luck in securing a position. He was under 18 - too young.

In March of 2025 he began volunteering at Elmwood Park Zoo as a community educator, talking with visitors about animals and their behavior. That summer, through his hard work and steady presence, he transformed a volunteer role at the Animal Rescue League of Berks County into an internship.

“After some time working at the rescue league, they allowed me to experience animal surgeries, help in recovery, take the temperature and pulse of animals, and more,” says Taylor. “I became an indispensable part of the team, helping where was needed. At first, I was nervous, but I knew I wanted to be able to help animals. In those moments, when I was able to assist and care for the animals, without hesitation, I knew I was ready for the next step.”

Finally, his dad showed him a help wanted ad for a production assistant which set him on a course for an independent study and an immersive experience in animal care. 

Twice a week, Taylor drives 45 minutes to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center, a hub of large-animal veterinary medicine and research, located on a 700-acre campus in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The facility combines clinical care (both inpatient and outpatient), extensive field services, diagnostic laboratories, and specialist research programs, and is one of the busiest teaching hospitals for horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats in the country.

Taylor spends an eight-hour day at their Swine Teaching and Research Center, where he is the first high school student working there alongside experienced barn staff, researchers, and faculty to advance swine nutrition, husbandry, productivity, and welfare. His day is busy and varied - from checking the health of piglets, to monitoring the sows' activity, to performing reproductive procedures and administering medications.

Because of the unique circumstances of breeding pigs for production, Taylor has been exposed to several parts of the breeding and birthing of swine, that he would not have been exposed to until veterinary school. 

“Until this point, no one my age has had the opportunity to aid in the swine reproductive cycle and the research that supports swine production at the Center,” shares Taylor. “The magnitude of this experience is not lost on me.”

These moments would not have been possible without the open-mindedness and acceptance of Dr. Thomas Parsons, Marie A. Moore Endowed Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics and director of the Swine Teaching and Research Center.

“Dr. Parsons took a chance having me,” says Taylor. “He didn’t know me at all; he just read my resume and knew I was going to embrace this opportunity with open arms. He took a chance, and I am very grateful.”

Parsons has spent his career improving the lives of pigs while supporting the farmers who raise them. His pioneering work with Electronic Sow Feeding (ESF) systems has transformed how sows are cared for in group housing environments. Using technology that allows each sow to be individually identified and fed according to nutritional needs, ESF systems provide more humane living conditions while reducing aggression, allowing social interaction, and improving overall health. The equipment also gives farmers precise data on each animal’s feed intake and performance, helping farmers to make smarter management decisions.

“Dr. Parsons represents something that I want to be in the future,” says Taylor. “He is an inventor and educator alongside his career in veterinary medicine. He has been a major influencer in the advancement of swine production, and I would like to make an impact like that.”

During the remainder of the week, Taylor continues life as a regular high school student – taking classes in calculus and chemistry, playing on the Prep Lacrosse team, and working out in the gym. 

“Finding a balance is very difficult,” says Taylor, “but I make it work because I love lacrosse, my time at Penn, and grades are important for my future. Perkiomen School and their teachers and coaches have also been very understanding of what I want to do and have encouraged me along the way.”

Last year, Taylor completed his Medical Institute Capstone project, focusing on his interest in exotic animals. In his research paper, Evolution of the Galapagos Marine Iguana, Taylor explored the remarkable evolutionary history of the Marine Iguana and the modern environmental threats it faces. Over 4.5 million years, the species diverged dramatically from its land-dwelling ancestors, developing specialized traits, including saltwater tolerance, powerful limbs, sharper claws, and a streamlined head, allowing it to forage in the ocean. However, the stability of this unique adaptation is now at risk. The Galápagos Islands experience recurring El Niño and La Niña (ENSO) cycles, which warm the water and disrupt algae growth, the Marine Iguana’s primary food source. As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of these events, the rapid environmental shifts may outpace the iguanas’ ability to adapt, posing a significant threat to their long-term survival.

Taylor believed he would focus his veterinary career on exotics, but after working with the swine population, he is open to exploring his options.

“As I take the first steps on my way to vet school, I have learned to be open minded to all parts of the field,” says Taylor. “I have always been interested in studying exotics but this experience at The New Bolton Center has sparked an interest in livestock. Working with swine up close has shown me just how much personality, intelligence, and instinct they truly have. These are traits most people, including myself, never realize until they interact with these animals directly. Seeing this firsthand has reinforced my belief that so much of the animal world is still misunderstood simply because most people never get the chance to experience it. This has only strengthened my commitment to becoming a veterinarian in order to learn more about other species and how they have a bigger purpose and role in the world.”

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