KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Three pharmacy students at the University of Kansas were recognized with $6,000 in scholarships from the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation.

Neil F. Young, Erie; Julie E. Keeton, Ness City; and Jennifer Nemnich, Great Bend, received their awards Oct. 18 at the organization’s 111th annual national conference in New Orleans. All are members of the association’s student chapter at KU and are pursuing a doctor of pharmacy degree, a six-year professional degree offered by KU’s School of Pharmacy.

Young received the $2,000 Willard B. Simmons Sr. Memorial Scholarship in Pharmacy Management. He was selected based on leadership qualities, involvement in extracurricular activities, academic achievement and a demonstrated interest in independent pharmacy management.

Keeton and Nemnich were two of only seven students nationwide to receive $2,000 Partners in Pharmacy scholarships for academic achievement, community service and a demonstrated commitment to independent community pharmacy.

In addition, a spring 2009 doctor of pharmacy graduate, Melissa Rufenacht, Ness City, was named one of 33 outstanding student chapter members by the national association. A past president of the KU student chapter, Rufenacht earned one of 18 National Community Pharmacists Association Presidential Scholarships awarded in 2008. She was a member of a two-person team whose plan for independent pharmacy ownership was chosen as one of three national finalists in the 2008 National Community Pharmacists Association Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition.

The National Community Pharmacists Association’s student chapters promote independent pharmacies as a career option. KU’s chapter has been honored as national chapter of the year four times in the past 11 years and was first runner-up in 2007. The chapter has about 140 members and regularly visits communities in Kansas to promote career opportunities at independent pharmacies.

Gene Hotchkiss, associate dean of pharmacy, founded the student group in 1998 and is its faculty co-adviser along with Dennis Grauer, associate professor of pharmacy practice.

The National Community Pharmacists Association represents the nation’s community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 pharmacies. The nation’s independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises and independent chains dispense nearly half of the nation’s retail prescription medicines.

Scholarship winners are listed below by hometown, level in school, parents’ names, other schools attended and award.

BARTON COUNTY
From Great Bend 67530
Jennifer Nemnich, fourth-year pharmacy student, daughter of Donald and Debbie Lang; Great Bend High School; Partners in Pharmacy Scholarship.

NEOSHO COUNTY
From Erie 66733
Neil F. Young, third-year pharmacy student, son of Frank and Sharon Young; Erie High School; Willard B. Simmons Sr. Memorial Scholarship in Pharmacy Management.

NESS COUNTY
From Ness City 67560
Julie E. Keeton, second-year pharmacy student, daughter of Russell and Kristol King; Ness City High School; Partners in Pharmacy Scholarship.