New Award Extols Community Outreach

As a university student, you learn to appreciate two things: the faculty and staff who provide mentorship and the generosity of donors who support student awards. The Pharmacy Class of 2009 (pictured left) has taken the latter to heart and established a new award in their Faculty, the Pharmacy Class of 2009 Passion and Commitment Award.

The Class of 2009 had a surplus of $5,000 thanks to their successful graduation fundraising efforts. To determine how to use the extra funds, the graduation committee polled their class and settled on creating a scholarship. “We thought, what better way to leave an impression on the Faculty for future classes than by giving an award back and having it remind future classes about who we were and what our class was about,” says Crystal Kosheluk, graduation committee member.

When deciding on the criteria for the award, the Class chose to focus on community service rather than solely basing it on academic merit because many existing scholarships already reward high marks alone.  Kori Wachniak, graduation committee member says her class has noticed that there are many motivated students “who did not necessarily achieve tops marks but had a lot of other non-faculty commitments.”

Based on those observations the class decided to call their scholarship the Passion and Commitment Award. “Our award takes academics, volunteering and community service into consideration to allow a very well-rounded, passionate future pharmacist to earn this award,” Kosheluk says.

For the next 20 years, a $250 scholarship will be awarded annually to one fourth-year Pharmacy student for their service to the community, particularly service outside of the Faculty, as well as their academic excellence.

In 20 years when the initial contribution from the Class of 2009 runs out, Wachniak thinks her class may come together again. “A lot of bonds were made between us in the four years we spent together. We’re all proud to be pharmacists now, so I don’t see why we wouldn’t want to continue to support our future colleagues down the road.”

“From the passion I saw from many of the students in our last year together I have strong confidence that this award will not be forgotten years down the road but have an everlasting legacy at the Faculty of Pharmacy, inspiring others to go out in the community and do great things for the sake of others and the profession of pharmacy,” Kosheluk adds.