The Scholarship & Fellowship Recognition Luncheon, A Benevolent Legacy
On September 7, students, faculty, and friends of the college gathered at the Health Sciences Innovation Building for the 2024 Scholarship & Fellowship Recognition Luncheon. This annual event is an opportunity for our noteworthy scholars to meet their esteemed donors, celebrate their academic achievements, and share their aspirations for the future.
This marks another year of the beloved event, solidifying a commitment to student success with 143 Coit College of Pharmacy students receiving scholarships, a financial commitment of over $400,000. This support is critical to the college’s success. “We must invest in the time and resources needed to achieve that success. Above all, this means investing in you – our students – and the place where you learn, conduct research, and become visionary pharmacy practitioners, scientists, and academics,” said Dean Rick Schnellmann, PhD.
Ardent benefactors of the college look forward to attending this event and meeting the students they support. “It was a very special experience to get to know Jacob and share with him the history of this scholarship and my brother’s legacy,” says MaryCarmen Cruz Orr, sister of Philip Cruz and representative of the Philip Cruz Memorial Endowed Scholarship. After their heartwarming conversation, the two exchanged phone numbers with a desire to keep in touch and share news as Jacob progresses in his pharmacy journey. “After speaking with Jacob, I felt a connection with him and his goals for entering the field of pharmacy. We hope that he will feel inspired to continue the tradition of making a difference for others just as my brother did.”
Pharmacy runs in the Cruz family as not only was Philip Cruz a ’71 College of Pharmacy graduate, but his brother Ernest Cruz, who started the scholarship in his honor, graduated in 1964. This endowed scholarship began in 2008 to honor Phillip Cruz and his lifetime dedication to caring for those in the community.
This endowed scholarship is just one of many that College of Pharmacy students benefit from and express gratitude for at the recognition luncheon. “We know that our efforts to succeed are not in vain and that these awards validate every step we take to advance our career. That no matter how much doubt we may have, or the myriad of struggles we face, there will always be someone who has fully invested themselves in us through their scholarly donations,” expressed Hayden Mitteer, a P3 pharmacy student and recipient of the Coit Support Scholarship.
Nancy Alvarez, PharmD, associate dean of academic and professional affairs in Phoenix and master of ceremonies, closed the luncheon with, “We don’t often take the time to celebrate these moments, the hard work and struggle that got us here, and recognize they are one of many highlights along your professional path and will only add meaning to your experience here at the Coit College of Pharmacy. We look forward to the day of welcoming you into the ranks of being an alumnus of this great college.”
Visit Scholarship Universe to view all the available scholarship opportunities.