View Larger Image COP Class of 2026 LR
Thirty-nine pharmacy students from the Class of 2026 participated in the Little Rock pinning ceremony on March 7. Image by Evan Lewis

College of Pharmacy Recognizes Class of 2026 at Pinning Ceremonies

By Benjamin Waldrum

| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy Class of 2026 received commemorative pins marking their transition to patient care during ceremonies held in Little Rock on March 7 and Fayetteville on March 10.

Thirty-nine students in Little Rock and 14 students in Fayetteville participated in the ceremonies, held at their respective UAMS campuses. The events are held each year to recognize outgoing third-year pharmacy students and mark a time for reflection on how far they’ve come.

Corinne Ridgell with Stowe and Jones

Third-year pharmacy student Corinne Ridgell holds her pin alongside Dean Stowe (left) and Bri Jones, Pharm.D. (right).Evan Lewis

“I believe that the experiential part of your curriculum is probably the most important part,” said Dean Cindy Stowe, Pharm.D., who spoke at both ceremonies. “I wish you the very best in this learning journey, and I encourage you to dive into this work. Dig deep — deeper than you even imagined — and learn everything you can from these advanced pharmacy practice experiences. Your older self will be happy that you did.”

For the first three years of pharmacy school, students focus on didactic, or classroom, instruction. Their fourth and final year involves Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences, during which they serve patients at home and abroad on rotations as they prepare for careers after graduation.

Fourth-year students Jenae Powell and Lora Davis served as emcees in Little Rock and Fayetteville, respectively, reading the names of each student as they stepped on stage to receive their commemorative pin.

The Arkansas Pharmacists Association (APA) sponsored this year’s ceremonies. The organization was represented by Bri Jones, Pharm.D., vice president of innovation, in Little Rock, and by Duane Jones, P.D., board member, in Fayetteville.

COP Class of 2026 NWA

Pharmacy students in Northwest Arkansas had a separate pinning ceremony on March 10.David Wise

Phi Tang, Pharm.D., served as the keynote speaker in Little Rock. Tang, a 2024 College of Pharmacy graduate, is a clinical pharmacist with Healthy Connections Community Pharmacy in Malvern and Hot Springs. Katherine Snider, Pharm.D., also a 2024 College of Pharmacy graduate, was the keynote speaker in Fayetteville. She is a first-year resident at Mercy Northwest in Rogers.

“You’ve all reached a major milestone in your careers, and believe it or not, you are extremely close to reaping the benefits of all the hard work you’ve put in these last three years,” Tang said.

He encouraged students to be persistent on their rotations and constantly work to improve. “Don’t be afraid of not knowing the answer, because a lot of times you won’t know the answer. Be persistent and find that answer.”

Snider suggested that students treat each rotation like a month-long interview, adding that professionalism, networking and getting feedback were crucial parts of the experience. Since students rotate frequently, they should set monthly goals and learn something new each time, she said.

Abby Marshall COP Pinning

Third-year pharmacy student Abby Marshall (center) poses with friends and family holding signs of support.David Wise

With graduation just around the corner, Snider reminded the students to tell the pharmacy at the end of their rotations that they’re interested in coming back — as full-fledged pharmacists.

“Let this ceremony today signify more than just a tradition,” she said. “Let this pin represent a carefully compounded prescription of dedication, hard work and service to the pharmacy profession.”

The student ambassadors for the two events were Kirsten Jones, Nate Lemke, Ireland Davidson, Sophia Wilborn, Kori Mangan, Alex Langston, Taylor Bandala, Ciarra Helms, Tionna Lyles, Aniese Kattash, Evelyn McHaney, Tyler Nueske and Emilee Davis.

College of Pharmacy Class of 2026:

  • Landon Abernathy
  • Sarah Aviles
  • Rachel Barnhardt
  • Blair Benbow
  • Emily Bollier
  • Alyssa Bradford
  • Kerigan Bradshaw
  • Avery Burton
  • Madeline Butera
  • Hannah Carter
  • Anden Chaney
  • Amberly Clifton
  • Colby Cormell
  • Fawn Damron
  • Reid Dean
  • Avery Dearworth
  • Blake Ferrell
  • Alexis Ford
  • Bobby Frazzini
  • Kathryn Givens
  • Avery Glover
  • Evan Griesse
  • Addison Hays
  • Gavin Heustis
  • Pilar Jeffrey
  • Michelle Johnson
  • Emily Kanwischer
  • Abbigail Kidd
  • Kasey Killion
  • Kylie Hendrix
  • Madison Layes
  • Abby Marshall
  • Mackenzie McGuire
  • Romi Melancon
  • Aimsley Moran
  • Halle Morgan
  • Bang-Giao Nguyen
  • Jacob Parker
  • Madeleine Peters
  • Alexis Phongsavanh
  • Allison Rabun
  • Corinne Ridgell
  • Jared Russell
  • Hannah Schichtl
  • Rachel Siebenmorgen
  • Aubree Seibert-Jeffrey
  • Daman Singh
  • Natalie Smith
  • Kaitlyn Stratton
  • Gabriel Taylor
  • Kirsten Tilley
  • Hayden Wood
  • Emma Wooldridge