Lyle Silverman, right, presents the Pharmacy Class of 1966 Scholarship Award to Katie Leppky, left.
Pharmacy students awarded more than $70k in scholarships at annual ceremony
Despite a demanding third-year schedule, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) student Katie Leppky finds time to coach youth soccer.
Her community involvement, student council work and GPA above 3.5 earned her a Pharmacy Class of 1966 Scholarship — one of 30 awards presented at the College of Pharmacy’s annual Academic Awards Ceremony.
“Being recognized shows that I’m able to do activities I’m passionate about while maintaining strong academic performance,” Leppky said.
Honouring academic excellence
Thirty-one PharmD students from the second-, third- and fourth-year classes at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences were recognized for their academic achievements during the previous academic year.
Students were joined by family, friends, faculty, staff and a few donors who presented awards in person.
“Celebrating the achievements of our PharmD students and educators is a highlight of our academic year, and it’s a great moment to pause and recognize the hard work and dedication that define our community,” said Dr. Hope Anderson, dean of the College of Pharmacy, in her welcoming remarks.
Dr. Hope Anderson addresses the crowd in the Brodie Atrium.
“Awards are never really the end goal, but rather a bit of a reward as you grind and do the hard work, and also an incentive to keep going, to keep striving for excellence in every task.”
Third-year PharmD student Kaitlyn Nicholson, who grew up in rural Manitoba, also received the Pharmacy Class of 1966 Scholarship along with being recognized in the Dean’s Honour Roll.
Nicholson was last year’s class president and was a representative of the national branch of the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI). She continues to be active in student council and volunteers through college programs.
“Even with the late nights and early mornings studying, it pays off. And it’s really nice to be recognized for that,” said Nicholson. “I’m loving the pharmacy program. We learn so much about patient care and I strongly feel we are at the centre of the patient care team.”
Nicholson said she wants to work in hospital pharmacy in the future.
“I’m working in a hospital right now and really enjoy it — seeing the impact pharmacists have on patient care and how we work closely with physicians,” said Nicholson.
Enduring donor support
Anderson said scholarships wouldn’t be possible without the generous contributions of donors.
“Your support empowers these — the next generation of pharmacists — to break new ground and deliver meaningful societal impact … this legacy of learning and recognition and excellence will continue to thrive for years to come,” Anderson said.
Members of the Pharmacy Class of 1966 with award recipients. From left: Marian Kremers, Katie Leppky, Dr. Daniel Sitar, Kaitlyn Nicholson and Lyle Silverman.
When Lyle Silverman, a 1966 pharmacy graduate, attended school in the 1960s, tuition was only $400 a year.
Today, College of Pharmacy students pay $21,000 in tuition per year.
“This is one good reason to create an endowment-based scholarship where funds will continue to grow and live long after we’re all gone,” said Silverman as he addressed the crowd.
All 28 members of the class contributed to the Pharmacy Class of 1966 Scholarship fund when it was first established in 2006. The fund has supported 36 students since its inception.
This year, he and his wife, Anna Silverman, contributed a $100,000 gift to their class endowment fund, almost doubling its size.
“It’s satisfying to hear what our small class has achieved and how it has expanded over the years,” said Silverman.
A supportive college community
Laura Peters, a third-year PharmD student, received five awards: Dean’s Honour Roll, Isbister Scholarship in Pharmacy, Manitoba Pharmacists’ Women’s Auxiliary Scholarship, Mrs. Ethel Roberts Memorial Prize and the Dr. A.W. Hogg Undergraduate Scholarship.
Dr. Hope Anderson (right) presents the awards to Laura Peters (left).
Peters credits the program’s supportive environment for helping her succeed.
“The profs here in the program, they’re so motivating and helpful — it feels a bit more like a family than a teacher-student relationship.”
Anderson attributes the success of the college to the entire community. At the ceremony, three faculty members were also recognized for their contributions.
“To our faculty and our staff, your mentorship, your guidance, your hard work … These are the foundation of this success — the students’ success,” said Anderson.
“Excellence in education is really a collective endeavour, starting with the learners, but also with the educators and staff.”
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