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Alex Phongsavanh, Pharm.D., poses with members of her family following the ceremony. Image by Evan Lewis

College of Pharmacy Confers Degrees for ‘Small but Mighty’ Class of 2026

May 21, 2026 | Fifty-two graduates from the UAMS College of Pharmacy Class of 2026 proudly walked across the stage and received their Pharm.D. degrees at a May 16 ceremony.

Friends and family members cheered and whistled in support of the newly minted pharmacists, who have now completed their four years of pharmacy school and are moving on to new opportunities in their budding careers.

“Today you join one of the most trusted and accessible professions in healthcare,” said Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., UAMS provost, chief strategy officer and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Your expertise will help meet real and growing healthcare needs across the state. As you begin the next chapter, I want you to remember that your work is not only about medications — it’s about people. Every prescription you fill, every question you answer, every patient you counsel is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.”

College of Pharmacy Dean Cindy Stowe, Pharm.D., thanked the “network of people” behind every graduate that supported them throughout their education, and recognized faculty members in attendance for their role in shaping the next generation of pharmacy professionals. She congratulated the Class of 2026 for finally attaining “the big one.”

“You came into college as a student pharmacist, and today you leave as colleagues,” Stowe said. “As pharmacists, people will look to you during some of the most vulnerable and important moments of their lives. Trust your expertise, rely on your integrity, and remember how you make them feel during moments that matter. Never underestimate the impact of your presence, your compassion, and your professionalism. Your legacy will ultimately be measured by the people you serve and the difference you make in their lives.”

Each year, the graduating class selects a faculty member to give the convocation address. This year, that honor went to Melanie Reinhardt, Pharm.D., associate professor of pharmacy practice.

“You have not simply completed a rigorous academic program —you have lived full lives alongside it,” Reinhardt said. “There were undoubtedly moments when the path forward seemed impossible to navigate. And still, you persevered.”

Reinhardt emphasized the College of Pharmacy’s three core values of growth, integrity, and respect as essential to patient care, and encouraged the graduates to continue learning.

“The degree you receive today is not a finish line, it is a threshold,” she said. “Reaching graduation is such a meaningful milestone, and with it comes one of the greatest privileges in healthcare: the opportunity to truly care for patients. Never lose sight of that gift. When you care for each patient the way you would a family member or dear friend, you’ll not only find success — you’ll find deep fulfillment in the work you do every day.”

Ashok Philip, Ph.D., the college’s associate dean for student services, presented 10 graduates with commemorative plaques as a special recognition for being named Jordin Scholars —reserved for students with the highest level of academic achievement.

Philip also introduced each graduate onstage with the “Doctor” honorific before their name, signifying the title they had each worked so hard to achieve. As each student crossed the stage to applause and cheers, they received crimson-and-white hoods from Reinhardt and Scott Warmack, Pharm.D., the college’s associate dean at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus.

Kerigan Bradshaw-Hensley gave the class response, thanking the friends and family present for their support. She reminisced on several shared experiences for the class, including the first time they were allowed to remove their masks on campus following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bradshaw-Hensley said that faculty members described the graduating class as “small, but mighty.” She said they stood out in part due to their outsized engagement and involvement.

“We all chose a profession that is centered around helping people,” she said. “As we move into this next chapter, I hope we never lose the passion that brought us here in the first place. I hope we continue to stay curious, continue learning, and to continue to strive to be better for our patients every single day.”

Bradshaw-Hensley left her colleagues with a challenge: put patients first, lead with compassion, and never underestimate the impact that they can make as pharmacists.

“Class of 2026, I am so proud of each and every one of you,” she said. “We made it.”

Stowe led the class in reciting the Oath of a Pharmacist as the ceremony closed, in which the students took a symbolic vow to devote themselves to a lifetime of service.

Student ambassadors for the event were Alyssa Nolan, Ashley Serfaty, Alex Langston, Dylan Silverman-Barnes, Jasmin Preston, Madeline Davidson, De’Shabrion Williams, Grace Edwards, Taytlor Bandala, Lauren Harrell, Scarlett Averett, and Bennett Hasley.

Student Honors and Awards

The Jordin Scholar designation is reserved for those students with the highest academic achievement and professional attainment. This scholarship and recognition is given to honor the late Marcus Jordin, Ph.D., professor emeritus of pharmacology. These recipients are:

• Sarah Aviles
• Blair Benbow
• Kerigan Bradshaw-Hensley
• Robert Frazzini
• Evan Griesse
• Bang-Giao Nguyen
• Natalie Smith
• Kaitlyn Stratton
• Kirsten Tilley
• Emma Wooldridge

All 10 Jordin Scholars also graduated with the High Honors designation, reserved for the lesser of the top 5% of the class or a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or greater.

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 Robert Frazzini.

Honors in Research are accorded to students who are academically qualified and who conducted original research in an area of the health sciences. These recipients are:

• Sarah Aviles
• Pilar Jeffery
• Emily Kanwischer
• Aimsley Moran
• Rachel Siebenmorgen
• Kirsten Tilley

Phi Lambda Sigma, also known as the national Pharmacy Leadership Society, honors leadership, and members are selected by peer recognition. The Class of 2026 members are:

• Blair Benbow
• Emily Bollier
• Madeline Butera
• Avery Dearworth
• Abbigail Kidd
• Mackenzie McGuire
• Kaitlyn Stratton
• Kirsten Tilley
• Hayden Wood
• Emma Wooldridge

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 be elected as professional or graduate pharmacy students, as faculty members for schools or colleges of pharmacy, as alumni who distinguish themselves in the profession or as honorary members by special action. The Class of 2026 members are:

• Sarah Aviles
• Rachel Barnhardt
• Blair Benbow
• Kerigan Bradshaw-Hensley
• Robert Frazzini
• Evan Griesse
• Bang-Giao Nguyen
• Aubree Seibert-Jeffrey
• Natalie Smith
• Kaitlyn Stratton
• Kirsten Tilley
• Hayden Wood
• Emma Wooldridge

The following graduates were recognized with Summative Exam 2 Awards of Excellence for their performance on the senior summative exam:

• Rachel Barnhardt
• Robert Frazzini
• Evan Griesse
• Abigail Marshall
• Natalie Smith
• Kirsten Tilley
• Emma Wooldridge

The American Pharmacists Association Senior Recognition Certificate was given to Kerigan Bradshaw-Hensley 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 given to Madeline Butera for contributing most to the success of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists UAMS chapter.

The Arkansas Pharmacists Association Senior Award was given to Hayden Wood 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 Medical Chemistry was given to Halle Morgan for demonstrating excellence in medicinal chemistry.

The Cardinal Health Outstanding Student in Nuclear Pharmacy Award was given to Hannah Schichtl to acknowledge superior achievement in nuclear pharmacy courses.

The Cindy D. Stowe Award for Excellence in Clinical Skills was given to Allison Rabun 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 Kerigan Bradshaw-Hensley for academic excellence in the area of nonprescription medicine studies.

The Keith M. Olsen Excellence in Experiential Education Award was given to Romi Melancon for displaying excellence in experiential performance during advanced pharmacy practice.

The Merck Manual Award for Academic Excellence was given to Madeline Butera and Aubrey Seibert-Jeffrey for showing personality, initiative and superior attitude as pharmacy practitioners.

The Stephanie Gardner Excellence in Interprofessional Education Award was given to Madeline Butera for demonstrating excellence in interprofessional learning and education activities.

The Viatris Excellence in Pharmacy Award was given to Kerigan Bradshaw-Hensley for graduating in the top 25% of the class and demonstrating high professional proficiency and motivation in the area of drug information.

The United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award was given to Madeline Butera. The prestigious award recognizes pharmacy students who have made significant contributions to public health by promoting wellness and healthy communities.

Faculty Honors & Awards

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award was given to Brendan Frett, Ph.D. Frett, an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences, joined the faculty in 2016.

The Department of Pharmacy Practice Outstanding Faculty Award was given to Melanie Reinhardt, Pharm.D. Reinhardt, an associate professor of pharmacy practice, joined the faculty in 1995.

The Preceptor of the Year award was given to Caul Corbell, Pharm.D. Corbell graduated from the College of Pharmacy in 2014 and is a pharmacy manager at Live + Well Compounding Pharmacy in Fayetteville.