OAKWOOD, VA (MAY 24, 2022) – Appalachian College of Pharmacy students in the Class of 2022 were recently recognized for their achievements during an awards ceremony held on campus. Students in the classes of 2023 and 2024 will be recognized June 9.
“Our annual awards ceremony the perfect time to recognize our pharmacy students for their hard work and their achievements and a time when we also recognize the best of the best among our faculty and staff,” said ACP Dean Susan Mayhew. “I am so proud of each and every one of them for the many ways in which they have helped, continue to help and will help in the future to advance the profession of pharmacy.”
Awards presented were as follows:
The Dean’s Award, presented by Mayhew, was earned by Matthew Bates.
The award recognizes a student’s outstanding achievement and unselfish devotion to his or her class, the college and the profession. Bates, who earned his undergraduate degree from Liberty University, served as president of his class all three years and was a member of Phi Lambda Sigma and Kappa Psi.
During his time at ACP, he was a two-time winner of the ACP Outstanding Leadership Award. He graduated with members of his class earlier this month and was chosen by his peers as the student speaker. He is currently an intern at Walgreens in Bristol and plans to continue to work there.
The dean also recognized students named to the Dean’s List, who included Mahdieh Moslemi; Chelsey Couch; Tyler Goins; Landon Feuchtenberger; Alexis Inman; Ken Marshall; Gabrielle Perry; Maggie Haynes; Walter Lester; Sally-Kella Mbah; Melissa Plowman; and Priyal Vyas. Students named to the Dean’s List are those who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Mahdieh Moslemi was the winner of the highest grade point average award. Dr. Ingo Engels presented the award.
The Community Service Award was earned by Alexis Thurston. Dr. Ed Talbott made the presentation. The community service award recognizes outstanding service through the ACP Pharmacists in Community Service (PICS) program.
Dalton Pierce Oliver was the winner of the Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Caterina Hernandez made the presentation. The award recognizes demonstrated academic excellence, leadership and outstanding service commitment to the college and greater community.
The Outstanding Student Leadership Award was presented to Sally-Kella Ndeuh Mbah. Dr. Charla Thompson made the presentation. The award recognizes a student who has exemplified outstanding leadership qualities and demonstrated interest in either community pharmacy or health system pharmacy practice.
Maggie Elizabeth Haynes and Walter Aaron Cody Lester were winners of the professionalism award. Wade McGeorge made the presentation The award recognizes the ideals of professionalism and excellence in patient care in all aspects of the recipients’ academic pharmacy career.
The Academic Excellence in Pharmacy Award went to Mahdieh Moslemi. Dr. Jeremy Boltz made the presentation. The award recognizes excellence in academics and professional motivation in the profession of pharmacy.
Winners of the Distinguished Interprofessional Education Scholar Award were Jenna Tage, Dalton Oliver, Machaela Keene, Mackenza Harris, Allen Garcia, Aaron Justice, Dylan Caudill, Olakunle Akinola, Hanaa Abdelati and Brent Bailey. Dr. Kris Preston made the presentations.
The VIATRIS Excellence in Pharmacy Award was presented to Chelsey Noel Crouch by Dr. U.S. Rao. The award is given to a graduating senior in the top 25 percent of their class academically, demonstrating high professional motivation and the intent to enter into practice upon graduation.
Tyler Glen Goins was the winner of the VPHA Research and Foundation Student Award. Dr. Randall Cole made the presentation. The competitive award is presented annually to one student from each school of pharmacy in Virginia. Nominated students must have achieved above average scholastic results (top 25 percent of his or her class academically); have demonstrated the ideals of professionalism and excellence in patient care in all aspects of his/her academic pharmacy career; have demonstrated exceptional service and commitment to the profession of pharmacy through involvement in professional organizations and other extracurricular learning opportunities; intend to apply their knowledge of patient care to achieve better outcomes of drug therapy and health care delivery as a practitioner of pharmaceutical care upon graduation; and be a member of the student organization at their school.
The NCPA Student of the Year Award was earned by Alexis Louise Inman. Dr. Randall Cole made the presentation. The recipient must be an active member of NCPA who has contributed to the continued success of the NCPA student chapter at their pharmacy school.
The Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication was awarded to Gabrielle Viers Perry. Dr. Brent Gravelle made the presentation. The recipient of the award is in the top 25 percent their class academically; and possesses superior verbal and written clinical communication skills.
The VSHP Excellence in Health System Pharmacy Award was presented to Alexis Louise Inman. Dr. Richard Nicholas was the presenter. To be awarded, the recipient must demonstrate excellence in patient care activities in health system pharmacy practice; demonstrate an interest in pharmacy practice in health-system pharmacy (e.g. hospital, home care, managed care, long term care) through work experiences, didactic/experiential experiences, or both; demonstrate intent to pursue a career in health system pharmacy upon graduation; and be a member of and have been active in the student VSHP chapter.
Merck Awards were presented by Dr. Faisal Hossain to Ken Kawashima Marshall and Landon Elliot Feuchtenberger. The Merck awards are given to students who have shown outstanding proficiency in medicinal chemistry.
ACP faculty and staff members were also recognized. Dr. Ingo Engels was recognized with the Outstanding Science Faculty Teaching Award; Dr. Ed Talbott was recognized with the Academic Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award; and Dr. Angie Mutter was recognized with the Administrative Staff Member of the Year Award.
Dr. Randall Cole was recognized as the Student Organization Advisor of the Year and was also recognized with the Preceptors of Excellence Award, the Community Outreach Acclamation Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Cole was a Class of 2014 graduate of ACP.
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes distinguished contributions in the fields of public health and public service, the performance of outstanding activities in the interest of the college and its students and an outstanding record in the profession of pharmacy.
Additional awards were presented to:
- ecognize outstanding preceptors who have had a positive impact on students’ experiential education.
- ward recognizes an outstanding preceptor amongst ACP pharmaceutical sciences faculty who has had a positive impact on students’ experiential education.
- gone “above and beyond” in providing academic support, tutoring, career counseling, or mentoring.
The Appalachian College of Pharmacy is the only three-year Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Founded in 2003, the college accepted its first students in 2005. It is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Its mission is to cultivate a learning community committed to education, community outreach and the professional development of pharmacists. Its graduate pharmacists are now practicing throughout the United States.
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