University of Arkansas Wins GNP NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition
A team of pharmacy students from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy won first prize.
Press Release
A team of pharmacy students from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy was named the winner of the 12th annual 2015 Good Neighbor Pharmacy National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition.
A team from South Carolina College of Pharmacy-USC was runner-up, and a team representing the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy finished as the second-runner up.
The decisions were made after a spirited live competition at the National Community Pharmacists Association 2015 Annual Convention.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy team was made up of captain Luke Morrison and members Kristen Belew, Brooklyn Pruett, and Christina Watkins. Team advisors were Seth Heldenbrand and Schwanda Flowers.
Their chapter received $3000, and $3000 was contributed to the school in the dean’s name to promote independent community pharmacy.
The team members, team advisor, and the dean will also receive complimentary registration, travel, and lodging to NCPA’s 2016 Multiple Locations Conference.
“The Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan competition empowers aspiring pharmacy owners to have carefully-crafted plans evaluated by a panel of experts,” said NCPA President John T. Sherrer, RPh, co-owner of Poole’s Pharmacy in Marietta, Ga. “Many past participants have become pharmacy owners and often cite the competition as being indispensable to their success. We thank all of the student teams who participated in the 2015 competition and congratulate this year’s winner, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy, the first runner up representing South Carolina College of Pharmacy-USC, and the second runner up, the University Minnesota College of Pharmacy, for their truly outstanding efforts.”
The 2015 competition drew participants from 43 schools and colleges of pharmacy across the United States. This is the first national competition of its kind in the pharmacy profession and started more than a decade ago.
The contest is named in honor of 2 great champions of independent community pharmacy, the late Neil Pruitt Sr. and the late H. Joseph Schutte.
The competition’s goal is to motivate pharmacy students to create a business model for buying an existing independent community pharmacy or developing a new one.
Through this competition, NCPA is helping to prepare tomorrow’s pharmacy entrepreneurs.
The competition is supported by Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Pharmacists Mutual Companies, and the NCPA Foundation.
The 3 finalist teams made exciting, live competition presentations of their business plans before the competition judges and a large audience at NCPA’s convention.
The South Carolina College of Pharmacy team was made up of captain Harriet Kneece and team members Maddie DeMarsh, Taylor Stone, and Rylee Rankin.
The team advisor was Bryan Ziegler, and the dean is Randall Rowen.
Their chapter received $2000, and $2000 was contributed to the school in the dean’s name to promote independent pharmacy.
The University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy team was was made up of captain Wilson Lau and team members Kelci Marzahn, Max Thompson, and Derek Borkowski. The team advisor was Caity Frail, and the dean is Marilyn Speedie.
Their chapter received $1000, and $1000 was contributed to the school in the dean’s name to promote independent pharmacy.
