Pharmacy Celebrates 105 Graduates in Virtual Convocation
| The Class of 2021 trekked a challenging road on the journey to graduation, and the graduates marked their path with perseverance and determination during an ongoing period of uncertainty.
Speakers made it clear this class would leave a legacy of resilience, as the College of Pharmacy celebrated its 105 graduates during the virtual Senior Honors & Awards Convocation on May 14.
“In the spirit of forward movement and resilience, our students adapted, and so did we,” said Lanita White, Pharm.D., the college’s assistant dean for student affairs, who led the convocation.
The College of Pharmacy recognized senior award recipients, and the graduates were honored with video tributes and a virtual procession before they were hooded by family and friends at home to commemorate the occasion.
“This event marks the culmination of many years of hard work and commitment to making your dream to become a pharmacist a reality. We honor you for your accomplishments and the completion of a rigorous curriculum,” said College of Pharmacy Dean Cindy Stowe, Pharm.D. “We celebrate the beginning of your careers as pharmacists, and we are confident that you are prepared to meet the challenges that come with our profession.”
While the COVID-19 pandemic has cast a looming shadow over daily life, it also shined a light on the pharmacy profession and its essential role in health care on a global and local scale.
“There were people quarantining in their home and unsure of where to get reliable health information, but their local pharmacists were there for them,” said Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., UAMS’ provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.
“There are many rural communities across Arkansas that lack a hospital or a health clinic, but there is a pharmacy in nearly every community,” she added.
The graduates have taken part in vaccination efforts throughout the state and many will enter the workforce to continue serving their communities in various pharmacy roles while 22 graduates will head to residency programs, spanning across 14 states.
As a class that triumphed through world-changing obstacles, Tyler Tollett encouraged his fellow graduates to remain confident in their knowledge and skills as they prepare for their futures.
“I can confidentially say UAMS has never graduated a more competent class of pharmacists because no other class has underwent a trial by fire like the Class of 2021,” said Tollett, the class president.
“COVID-19 challenged pharmacy in ways that even seasoned pharmacists weren’t prepared for, but the Class of 2021 never faltered,” he said. “We seized the new challenges of each day with the knowledge and professionalism that our patients have come to expect from their pharmacists.”
Tollett is one of nine students from the class to graduate with a 4.0 GPA, receiving the Jordin Scholar designation reserved for senior students with the highest academic achievement and professional attainment.
The other straight-A students include Rima Bhakta, Jacqueline Dodwell, Hayley Harrington, Anna James, Ryan Marks, Ian McVinney, Haodi Ruan and Wade Weaver.
The nine scholars graduated with high honors, a distinction recognizing the top 5% of the graduating class, and Bhakta received the Faculty Gold Key, which honors the senior student with the highest cumulative academic achievement during all four years of enrollment with the College of Pharmacy.
David Caldwell, Pharm.D., specifically mentioned students in his address as he recounted his arrival at UAMS in the Fall of 2017, just like the Class of 2021.
Although students are often known for identifying professors who’ve impacted their lives, Caldwell noted the lessons he learned from the graduating class, ranging from resilience to kindness.
“You all were the first group at UAMS that I was able to teach. I was glad to have a group of people that I could feel new with,” said Caldwell, the college’s associate dean for academic affairs. “From the beginning, your class made me feel comfortable and part of the group.”
The Class of 2021 includes graduates from California, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin, in addition to The Bahamas, Ghana, Guam and India.
Honors & Awards
The Jordin Scholar award is reserved for those students with the highest academic achievement and professional attainment. With this designation, lasting recognition is given in honor of the late Marcus Jordin, Ph.D., professor emeritus of pharmacology. Recipients include:
Rima Bhakta
Jacqueline Dodwell
Hayley Harrington
Anna James
Ryan Marks
Ian McVinney
Haodi Ruan
Tyler Tollett
Wade Weaver
The Faculty Gold Key award honors the student with the highest academic achievement during four years of enrollment in the College of Pharmacy. This year’s recipient is Rima Bhatka.
In addition to the Jordin Scholar designation and the Faculty Gold Key, all nine students graduated with High Honors designation, which are selected from the lesser of the top 5% of the class or a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or greater. All nine students earned a 4.0 GPA and are the top 5% of the class.
Students with Honors designation are selected from the lesser of the 20% of the class or a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater. This year, 11 students earned a GPA of 3.7 – 3.9 and are the top 20% of the class. The students are:
Laura Bolt
Katelynn Callaway
Matthew Calhoun
Jason Engstrom
Domonick Esparza
Allyson Flaherty
Catherine Halloran
Sarah Kuhn
Whitney Lumpkin
Abby Richards
Seth Wilson
Honors in Research are given to students who desire to conduct original research in an area of the health sciences. Students who complete this program have received the designation “With Honors in Research” on their official transcript. Recipients include:
Rima Bhakta
Brittany Butterfield
Katelynn Callaway
Caylin Carson
Jason Engstrom
Hayley Harrington
Catherine Jensen
Sarah Kuhn
Joshua Lowery
Gabriella Nepomuceno
Haodi Ruan
The designation of Honors in Experiential Education is awarded to the students who received the most honors-level performances in the experiential setting of fourth-year clinical rotations, also known as Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences. This year, 21 students received the designation:
Hannah Black
Laura Bolt
Katelynn Callaway
Sarah Covert
Jacqueline Dodwell
Allyson Flaherty
Halley Green
Dana Hamilton
Jessica Hardage
Hayley Harrington
Marlee James
Marissa Johnston
Allison Jolley
Gabriella Nepomuceno
Alyssa Outhay
Bhumiben Patel
Haodi Ruan
Evan Stoll
Tyler Tollett
Wade Weaver
Seth Wilson
The purpose of Phi Lambda Sigma, also known as the national Pharmacy Leadership Society, is to promote the development of leadership qualities, especially among pharmacy students. Phi Lambda Sigma honors leadership, and members are selected by peer recognition. The graduates who have been inducted into Phi Lambda Sigma are:
Rima Bhakta
Samuel Bonney
Brittany Butterfield
Caylin Carson
Sarah Covert
Jason Engstrom
Hayley Harrington
Hayley Hervey
Catherine Jensen
Byron Johnson
Marissa Johnston
Allison Jolley
Ryan Marks
Ian McVinney
Gabriella Nepomuceno
Haodi Ruan
Kayla Schapp
Arthur Shaw
Marina Swanson
Tyler Tollett
Tiffany Withrow
Membership in The Rho Chi National Honor Society is a privilege afforded to the very few who distinguish themselves by their academic and professional achievements and who aspire to the mission and vision of the society. Members may elected be elected as professional or graduate students in pharmacy, as members of faculties of schools and colleges of pharmacy, as alumni who distinguish themselves in the profession, or as honorary members by special action of the Society’s Executive Council.
Graduates who have been inducted into the Rho Chi National Honor Society are:
Rima Bhakta
Laura Bolt
Matthew Calhoun
Katelynn Callaway
Peyton Cashion
Jacqueline Dodwell
Jason Engstrom
Domonick Esparza
Allyson Flaherty
Catherine Halloran
Hayley Harrington
Anna James
Catherine Jensen
Sarah Kuhn
Whitney Lumpkin
Ryan Marks
Ian McVinney
James Murphy
Abby Richards
Haodi Ruan
Maddison Schuller
Tyler Tollett
Wade Weaver
Seth Wilson
The following graduates were recognized for excellence based on performance on the senior summative exam:
Rima Bhakta
Lindsey Betts
Caylin Carson
Jacqueline Dodwell
Allyson Flaherty
Catherine Halloran
Hayley Harrington
Anna James
Ryan Marks
Madeline Neubauer
Joanna Rish
Haodi Ruan
Evan Stoll
Tyler Tollett
Wade Weaver
The American Pharmacists Association Senior Recognition Certificate was awarded to Gabriella Nepomuceno for contributing most to the success of the Academy of Student Pharmacists UAMS chapter.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists President’s Award was presented to Catherine Jensen for contributing most to the success of the Student Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists UAMS chapter.
The Arkansas Pharmacists Association Senior Award was awarded to Gabriella Nepomuceno and Wade Weaver for showing the greatest potential for the delivery of total patient care to the citizens of the community.
The Aventis Pharmaceuticals Award for Excellence in Medicinal Chemistry was presented to Jacqueline Dodwell for demonstrating excellence in medicinal chemistry.
The Cardinal Health Outstanding Student in Nuclear Pharmacy Award was given to Gray Stanton to acknowledge superior achievement in the nuclear pharmacy courses.
The Cindy D. Stowe Award for Excellence in Clinical Skills was awarded to Katelynn Callaway for demonstrating excellence in clinical skills by achieving the highest score on Objective Structured Clinical Examinations across the curriculum.
The Daniel C. Spadaro Excellence in Nonprescription Medicine Award was given to Abby Richards for academic excellence in the area of nonprescription medication studies.
The Keith M. Olsen Excellence in Experiential Education Award was presented to Laura Bolt for displaying excellence in experiential performance during the advanced pharmacy practice experiences.
The Merck Manual Award for Academic Excellence went to Hayley Harrington, Catherine Jensen and Gabriella Nepomuceno for showing personality, initiative and superior attitude as practitioners in the profession of pharmacy.
The Stephanie Gardner Excellence in Interprofessional Education Award was presented to Jacqueline Dodwell for demonstrating excellence in interprofessional learning and practice activities.
The Viatris Excellence in Pharmacy Award for presented to Jacqueline Dodwell for graduating in the top 25% of the class and demonstrating high professional proficiency and motivation in the area of drug information.
The Wolters Kluwer Award of Excellence in Clinical Communications was awarded to Haodi Ruan for graduating in the top 25% of the class and demonstrating superior verbal and written clinical communication skills.
The United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award was presented to Gabriella Nepomuceno. The prestigious award recognizes pharmacy students who have made significant contributions to public health by promoting wellness and healthy communities.