NCPA Announces 2010 Student Chapter of the Year and Student Chapter Outstanding Member of the Year Award Winners

Philadelphia, Pa. - Oct. 25, 2010

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) announced the top student chapter and outstanding student chapter members at its 112th Annual Convention and Trade Exposition. The 2010 NCPA Student Chapter of the Year is Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy. The first runner-up is the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy. The second runner-up is the University of Washington School of Pharmacy. The 2010 NCPA Most Improved Chapter winner is the University of Southern Nevada – South Jordan. In addition, 31 pharmacy students were honored as NCPA Outstanding Student Chapter Members of the Year after being nominated by their peers and faculty at each of their respective schools. The chapter awards are sponsored by the NCPA Foundation.

"NCPA student chapters introduce future pharmacists to the world of independent community pharmacy ownership and its more patient-focused business model," said Sharlea Leatherwood, PD, NCPA Foundation President. "So while we rightfully congratulate the exemplary works of this year's four award-winning chapters -- Ohio Northern University, University of Southern California, University of Washington and University of Southern Nevada – South Jordan -- we are also heartened by the work of every NCPA chapter, and feel even more confident about the future of independent community pharmacies."

The award criteria included commitment to community service, recruiting new members, promoting independent community pharmacy, and advocating legislative action. The selection process was difficult with so many chapters distinguishing themselves.

The chapters are the most integral part of the NCPA Student Outreach Program that was launched 21 years ago by NCPA Foundation Trustee Emeritus Joe Mosso, who was president of the National Association of Retail Druggists (NARD, which became known as NCPA in 1996). The Foundation has provided nearly $800,000 to help underwrite the program, which is designed to increase student awareness of pharmacy ownership and the entrepreneurial opportunities in pharmacy. There are now approximately 3,500 student members and 90 Chapters in 129 U.S. pharmacy schools. A few of the most effective and popular programs that the Chapters encourage members to participate in are the Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition, Legislative Advocacy Challenge, Medication Therapy Management Challenge, NCPA Ownership Workshops and the NCPA Effective Pharmacy Management Course. Setting up mentorships and rotations with independent community pharmacies is also commonplace.

"Each NCPA Student Chapter Member of the Year winner is determined by the people who know them best—their fellow students and the faculty," said Joseph H. Harmison, PD, NCPA President and pharmacy owner in Arlington, Texas. "They see first-hand the effort and leadership, and thus recommended who should be designated with the honor, so we congratulate each of this year's 31 deserved winners."

NCPA Student Chapter Outstanding Member of the Year Awards (alphabetically listed by last name):

Lauren Anderson, Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy

Jessica Ault, West Virginia University School of Pharmacy

Carrie Bitterlich, Western University of Health Sciences

Nicholas Blackwell, Mercer University College of Pharmacy

Greg Booth, Southwestern Illinois University — Edwardsville, School of Pharmacy

Chris Bullard, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy

Thomas Carter, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy

Nin-Hoa Chau, Touro University California College of Pharmacy

Tamara Davidson, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy

James Demarest, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center

Yasir M. Gadit, University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy

Michael W. Grota, University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Darren Hart, University of Montana Skaggs School of Pharmacy

Andrew Helm, Washington State University College of Pharmacy

Jennifer Hidding, Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Tashena E. Hill, Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy

Clark Daniel Kebodeaux, University of Kansas School of Pharmacy

Richard Kowalczyk, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Boston

Oanh Amanda Lam, Howard University School of Pharmacy

Dana Ling, University of Washington School of Pharmacy

Jessica Long, Ferris State University College of Pharmacy

Bryna McKenna, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy

Ayano Mizote, University of Southern Nevada — South Jordan

Danny Nguyen, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy

Ngoc Thuy Nguyen, Appalachian College of Pharmacy

Katilyn Russell, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy

Andrea Santoro, University of Missouri — Kansas City School of Pharmacy

Gilbert R. Sarmiento, University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy

Lindsey Smith, Wilkes University Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing

Joan Syoufjy, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences — Worcester

Amanda Zomp, Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

The NCPA Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1953 to honor former NARD Executive Secretary John W. Dargavel. Contributions to the NCPA Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent permitted under federal tax law. The Foundation supports the growth and advancement of independent community pharmacy through low-interest educational loans and scholarships to pharmacy students in need, critical research and programs to improve the success of independent pharmacy, and financial assistance to community pharmacy owners for their recovery in the event of disaster, accidents, illness, or adverse circumstances. To learn more go to www.ncpafoundation.org.

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA®) represents the interests of America's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 independent community pharmacies, pharmacy franchises, and chains. Together they represent a $93 billion health-care marketplace, have more than 315,000 employees including 62,400 pharmacists, and dispense over 41% of all retail prescriptions. To learn more go to www.ncpanet.org or read NCPA's blog, The Dose, at http://ncpanet.wordpress.com.