Pharmacy alumni establish new scholarship

OXFORD — To help the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy recruit and retain qualified students, the Pharmacy Alumni Chapter of the UM Alumni Association has created a scholarship endowment bearing its name.

The group plans to fund the endowment with proceeds from the annual pharmacy weekend golf tournament and gifts from other individuals and organizations.

Last year’s tournament garnered more than $20,000.

Four out of five pharmacy graduates complete their degree with nearly $50,000 in debt.

“Incoming students will have a greater financial burden because another year has been added to the pre-pharmacy program to address new ACPE (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education) requirements,” said Laura Luther, pharmacy student body president. “I think it’s great that alumni recognize the importance of pharmacy education and are willing to give to ease the financial burden experienced by many students.”

The endowment was created as part of the pharmacy school’s Promises to Keep Campaign, which has garnered more than $10 million in endowments for merit and need-based scholarships and fellowships, faculty support and a new pharmacy building at the UM Medical Center in Jackson. The final push for the campaign is raising funds for scholarships.