Rita Hammer, a third-year student at the Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences (CPHS), was selected by a panel of Drake pharmacy alumni as the 2020-2021 recipient of the C. Boyd Granberg Student Excellence Scholarship Award. In honor of the award’s namesake, this honor recognizes a rising P4 student who has demonstrated leadership in advancing the pharmacy profession and has had significant involvement in professional pharmacy organizations.
Hammer, originally from Minneapolis, MN, has held multiple leadership positions in CPHS. Hammer currently serves as chairperson for DRxUGS, the over-arching umbrella of pharmacy organizations within the college. In this role, she works closely with other student leaders of the college. Hammer is also an active member of Rho Chi, an academic honors organization, in which she recently helped develop the Academic and Professional Services program to provide assistance for all pre-pharmacy and pharmacy students. As a P1, Hammer was a member of the diabetes committee for APhA-ASP and participated in local diabetic screenings and community outreach.
In addition to Hammer’s impressive leadership accomplishments within CPHS, she has served as a pharmacy intern for Hy-Vee, Cub Pharmacy, and SinfoníaRx, in addition to serving as a physiology teaching assistant for two semesters. In addition to her professional obligations to student organizations and internships, she has been able to sustain a record of high academic achievement throughout her career at Drake.
“Rita embodies many of the qualities of Dr. Granberg as she is an accomplished individual who has taken on leadership roles that make a difference for others,” said Renae Chesnut, dean of the college. “This recognition is well-deserved and recognizes her passion and commitment to the profession and leading others.”
The Granberg Student Excellence Scholarship Award, established in 2017 through generous gifts from several Drake pharmacy alumni, recognizes and celebrates the contributions of C. Boyd Granberg, former CPHS dean and faculty member. To read more about this award, click here.
If interested in contributing to the C. Boyd Granberg Student Excellence Fund, please follow one of these options:
1. Donate online with a one-time gift or an installment pledge by visiting https://alumni.drake.edu/giveonline. Complete the form, selecting ‘Other’ as the Designation and C. Boyd Granberg Student Excellence Fund in the ‘Other’ box. Select ‘Add to Cart’ and complete the payment information.
2. Mail your donation to the Drake College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, 2507 University Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50311. Include a note indicating that your gift is for the C. Boyd Granberg Student Excellence Fund.