Natalie Schmitz, Drake University pharmacy student, and Andrea Kjos, assistant professor of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, are recent recipients of the Walmart Scholars award. Schmitz and Kjos were selected by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) among 85 student-mentor pairs to participate in a competitive national program at the AACP Annual Meeting July 13–17, 2013 in Chicago, Ill.
The award allows Schmitz and Kjos the opportunity to attend a special teacher seminar at the AACP Annual Meeting. The goal of the scholarship program is to strengthen the student’s skills and commitment to a career in academic pharmacy, and it serves as a supplement to current professors who are mentoring students with career aspirations in academia.
Schmitz and Kjos worked together to complete the application for the award. There were three main parts—two student essays and one faculty essay. Schmitz completed the student essays, which asked her to reflect on her career goals and her academic experience, and Kjos completed a letter of recommendation in support of Schmitz.
“I was thrilled to learn that Natalie and I were selected for this program. Natalie is among the very few pharmacy students seriously considering careers in research and academia.” Kjos says. “It is wonderful that there are mechanisms to acknowledge the merits of her post-graduate plans.”
Visit www.aacp.org/career/grants/pages/walmart.aspx for more information on the AACP Walmart Scholars program.