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When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their long-awaited graduation plans, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) Class of 2020 did not just adapt—they innovated. Forced to move their commencement to a virtual platform, these resilient graduates turned their disappointment into an enduring legacy by creating the School of Pharmacy Scholarship.

Pooling together funds originally intended for their graduation festivities, the Class of 2020 initiated the scholarship as a gesture of solidarity and support for future students. What began as a short-term effort soon became a monumental achievement. By June 30, 2024, their efforts, combined with generous contributions from alumni and matching funds from Teri Poirier, PharmD, MPH, FASHP, FCCP, BCPS, Professor Emeritus, Pharmacy Practice and Class of 2020 Advisor, amassed $25,000. This milestone transformed their scholarship into an endowed fund, ensuring perpetual support for future pharmacy students.

Poirier reflected on the class's journey: "We tried to instill in this class from the beginning the importance of giving back to the community and leaving a lasting legacy. The Class of 2020 was the first to prioritize fundraising money for a class gift. If you look back, you'll see they collected pill bottles to recycle into a bench for the medicinal garden, a gift presented in 2019, a whole year before graduation."

Poirier further shared that the idea of an endowed scholarship was discussed even before the pandemic forced the cancellation of their graduation banquet.

"The class officers were optimistic that funds could be raised. I committed to matching the funds they raised," she said. "Even though they couldn't celebrate in person, they made sure their legacy would last, which is truly remarkable."

The scholarship has already been awarded to three deserving students, providing them with much-needed support as they pursue their pharmacy education. The recipients include Khushali Sarnot (2022), Megan Tenkhoff (2023), and Rebecca Loftus (2024).

Loftus, a third-year student pharmacist Student Society for Health-Systems Pharmacists (SSHP) President, Pharmacy Senator, and American Pharmacist Association-Academy of Student Pharmacist (APhA-ASP) Reproductive Health Committee Chair from the SOP Class of 2026, expressed her gratitude: "Scholarships, such as the SIUE School of Pharmacy Class of 2020 Endowed Scholarship, help reduce the stress associated with paying for college. I am quite an anxious person, and receiving this scholarship helps me let go of some of that anxiety so I can focus my efforts primarily on my education. I am incredibly grateful for this endowment and for the scholarship selection board for granting me this scholarship award."

Poirier emphasized the importance of continuing to build the endowment to provide more scholarships in the future. "I believe this is just the beginning for the Class of 2020. I am challenging the class members who haven't participated yet to be part of this legacy."

The Class of 2020's scholarship not only embodies the spirit of community but also secures a lasting impact, ensuring that future generations of pharmacy students can benefit from their foresight and generosity. To learn more about additional funding opportunities within the School of Pharmacy, contact Nick Niemerg, director of development, at nniemer@siue.edu or 618-650-5043. 

PHOTOS:  Teri Poirier, PharmD, MPH, FASHP, FCCP, BCPS, Professor Emeritus, Pharmacy Practice and Class of 2020 Advisor; Award recipient Rebecca Loftus (2024)