Thursday, May 12, 2011
Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain, recently presented the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy and Health Professions with a $10,000 gift.
A portion of the funds will provide a Walgreens Diversity Scholarship to a student whose efforts “raised awareness in diversity and community outreach,” Walgreens Delaware South Pharmacy Supervisor Don Holst said. Remaining funds will support programs at the university to positively impact enrollment and retention of students of diverse talents and backgrounds.
“We recognize the significant contribution the university makes in fostering the educational development of future pharmacy leaders,” Holst said.
UMES’ School of Pharmacy is among some 110 pharmacy schools across the country receiving the funds-part of a $1 million annual commitment from Walgreens.
“We take pride in the diversity within our company and our community,” Walgreens Delaware South District Manager Craig Clarke said. The program presents an opportunity to promote this within schools of pharmacy.
Clarke said the company is excited about its collaboration with UMES and “looks forward to the first year of graduates.”
The unique three-year Doctor of Pharmacy Program (Pharm.D.) began in August 2010 with an initial enrollment of 63 students, Dr. Nicholas Blanchard, dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions at UMES, said. The program is expected to grow to 180 students by the third year.
“Walgreens has demonstrated a commitment to pharmacy education across the country and we are very appreciative of its support of our new pharmacy program,” Blanchard said. The UMES/Walgreens partnership benefits both organizations. UMES pharmacy students were placed among 15 Walgreens sites for internship experiences this year, he said.
Walgreens distributes funds from its Diversity Program annually. “These gifts will allow our students the opportunity to continue their dream of one day becoming a pharmacist,” Paul Butler, major gifts officer, UMES, said.
Caption:
Pictured (front row) from left, Paul Butler, major gifts officer; Gains Hawkins, vice president of institutional advancement; Veronique Diriker, director of development; and Dr. Nicholas Blanchard, dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions; all of UMES, were presented with a check for $10,000 by Walgreens Delaware South Pharmacy Supervisor Don Holst and Delaware South District Manager Craig Clarke. Students in UMES’ inaugural Pharm. D. Program class pictured (back row) from left are Sarian Bangura, Ashley Lawrance, DeAngelo Price and Michael Geesaman. The gift is part of the company’s annual Diversity Initiative Program which awards $1 million to pharmacy schools across the country.
