We’re thrilled to announce that the winners of the 2020 CVS Health Minority Scholarship for Pharmacy Students have been selected!

The CVS Health Minority Scholarship for Pharmacy Students is a scholarship program launched in 2019 thanks to the generosity of CVS Health in partnership with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).

About this scholarship program

The scholarship program is designed to support and promote a diverse population of student pharmacists by reducing financial barriers for underrepresented minority (URM) students currently pursuing a PharmD degree.

Awardees are selected based on their demonstration of academic success, leadership, and a commitment to advancing the profession of pharmacy and patient care. Each recipient is awarded a single $8,000 scholarship.

The 2020 CVS Health Minority Scholarship for Pharmacy Students winners

We had a chance to connect with each of the 2020 scholarship awardees to discuss how this scholarship will help them as they move forward in their pursuit of a career in pharmacy.

Jihan Eli, University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Eli is a second-year pharmacy student at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She’s excited to have the opportunity to become a compassionate pharmacist and believes this scholarship will help play a role in that. Here’s what she had to say:

“I’m honored to receive this scholarship. This will tremendously relieve the financial burden that I have as a first-generation graduate student. Without having to worry about the financial aspect of pharmacy school, I’ll be able to focus my energy on becoming a patient-centered and compassionate pharmacist.

“In the future, I aspire to be a leader in underserved communities and improve health outcomes of minorities.”

David Mata, Texas A&M University Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy

Mata is a first-year pharmacy student at Texas A&M University’s Irma Lerma Rangle College of Pharmacy. He plans to use this scholarship to focus on his studies and extracurricular activities:

“I am honored to have been awarded the CVS Health Minority Scholarship by AACP and CVS. Receiving this scholarship will lessen the financial burden that comes with paying for higher education, and I’m very thankful. Now I can focus primarily on my studies and the extracurricular activities that will strengthen my character to become the best pharmacist I can be for my future patients.

“My future goal is to be able to make a difference in people’s lives. With my determination and passion and the aid of this scholarship, I am confident I can make a positive impact in the healthcare field.”

Amber Marie Stroffolino, Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy

Stroffolino is a second-year pharmacy student at the Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy. She’s thankful for this scholarship because it’ll help her continue pursuing her goal of becoming a community pharmacist:

“I am sincerely honored to have been selected for the CVS Health Minority Scholarship. This significant contribution to my pharmacy education will allow me to continue pursuing my goals of becoming a community pharmacist.

“As a first-generation Hispanic student, it has always been my goal to obtain higher education, to increase representation, and to become a provider for my community. Receiving this scholarship will allow me to further my education, promote diversity, alleviate financial stress, and move closer to achieving my dreams.

“Eventually, I hope to use my position as a health care provider to serve those in underrepresented and economically disadvantaged communities. As a future community pharmacist, I strive to improve patient health and wellbeing by providing patients with compassionate and empathetic care.”

Kenneth Jaquez Richardson, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy

Richardson is a second-year pharmacy student attending University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. He has the following to say about being awarded the CVS Health Minority Scholarship for Pharmacy Students:

“I cannot thank CVS Health and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy enough for considering my selection for the CVS Health Minority Scholarship for Pharmacy Students. This award means far greater than alleviating the financial burden of graduate school expenses. It is a monumental step in my path to becoming a successful pharmacist and serving as a better provider for future patients. This scholarship also allows me to represent and inspire rising minority pharmacy students, affirming that they can do it too.

“I look forward to continuing to develop my leadership, professional, and interpersonal skill sets by becoming more involved in my student organizations, internships, and other extracurricular experiences related to optimizing patient care in the community. Ultimately, I hope to pursue a residency program after graduation and practice as an ambulatory care clinical pharmacist.”

Leah Bishop, Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences 

Bishop is a second-year pharmacy student at Drake University College of Pharmacy & health Sciences. She’s thankful for this scholarship because it’ll bring her closer to achieving her goals of becoming a pharmacist:

“I am very humbled to have been selected as a recipient of the 2020 CVS Health Minority Scholarship. Receiving this honor means that the financial burden of pharmacy school will be lessened, allowing me to  continue pursuing a PharmD degree.

“Throughout the process of applying for this scholarship, I was reaffirmed that I have chosen the correct profession. This scholarship allows for greater accessibility to a PharmD degree for minority students. It helps even the playing field for marginalized students to enter into health professions.

“In the future, when I’m a pharmacist, I look forward to advocating for each of my patients to receive the same quality of care.”

Congratulations to the scholarship awardees

Please join us in congratulating these deserving students on their achievements! We can’t wait to watch them grow and succeed as they pursue careers in the pharmacy industry.

You can learn more about the CVS Health Minority Scholarship for Pharmacy Students on the AACP website.