Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS) held a pinning ceremony on May 8, 2025 to celebrate students entering internships, fieldwork and rotation experiences in the final year of their programs.
CPHS faculty presented Drake University pins and name badges to third-year undergraduate health sciences students, first-year Master of Athletic Training students, second-year Occupational Therapy Doctorate students, and third-year Doctor of Pharmacy students. Over the next year, these students will enter the workforce to gain essential on-the-job experience.
“This ceremony is our opportunity to congratulate each of you, and to celebrate your transition into your final phase of your education,” CPHS Dean Erik Maki said at the event. “I have no doubt that these experiences will provide valuable learning and allow each of you to demonstrate and hone the knowledge and skills you’ve learned in your programs.”
Armin Dogic, third-year Doctor of Pharmacy student, was announced as the winner of the Lon N. Larson Engaged Practitioner Award. Established through memorials made in Larson’s honor, the annual Lon Larson Engaged Practitioner Award is presented to the student that most demonstrates the values and actions for which Dr. Larson, previous CPHS faculty member, was best known including high ethical standards, reflective practice, innovation, and community service.
Dogic was also the recipient of the Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award. This award was established by the United States Public Health Service to recognize student pharmacists who make significant contributions to public health.
“I believe our communities need us to show up, lead, and to give back,” Dogic said in a written statement. “I am proud to carry that responsibility forward and to honor the wonderful legacy of Dr. Lon Larson and (to continue) doing public health work for my community.”
To assist students with their transition from their course work to their program’s final year of experiential learning, Dr. Lynn Kassel, associate professor of pharmacy practice, gave a speech providing advice on how to be a transformational leader. Dr. Kassel was the recipient of the College’s 2025 Richard Morrow Transformational Leadership Award.
Students who received pins and were named during the ceremony included the following:
Athletic Training Students: Madi Adams, Carlin Betts, Megan Brandmeyer, Elena Dibble, Emma Dighton, Lily Evan-Cook, Alyssa Jahr, Reese McGlasson, Abby Onwiler, Madelyn Smith, Anya Thigpen, Faith Ventura
Health Sciences Students: Audry Aguilera, Mohammed Alhatimi, Lily Anjorin, Isabella Ansani, Rhea Bajwa, Ryder Barrett, Afiya Bilata, Ella Bloom, Janyia Booker, Felicity Budelier, Julianne Caceres, Maggy Castillo, Connor Cleeton, Addie Cunningham, Brianna Fletcher, Lucy Hemann, AJ Hosking, Nasir Hassan, Riyam Hussien, Emma Jones, Aidan Keefe, Magnus Keswani, Kaylyn Le, Rose Lee, Riley Mancl, Denae McElrath, James Neal, Lindy Odegard, Leah Olinger, Emily Olson, Brittany Ortega, Aaryan Patel, Areigna Ralston, Antonio Rrapi, Carleen Sierra, Grace Stegen, Zing Sung, Abby Tillotson, Ella Troja, Sarah Wall, Olivia Yang
Occupational Therapy: Caley Backstrom, Emma Beierlein, Cole Brockman, Ashley Buckland, Trinity Bunkusol, Joy Clark, Alexa Coller, Emilee Danner-Borneman, Lexi Georgia, Mady Klebenow, Emma Nagel, Lauren Osborn, Kristen Phillips, Annabella Roberts, Steve Sehl, Alexis Sleiter, Ashley Tupy, Riley Uthe, Gwen Wollner, Jessie Woodyard
Pharmacy: Madelynn Aeilts, Kristen Alford, Haris Ali, Brianna Anderson, Mackenzie Beam, Courtney Becker, Sophia Bell, Dara Brandt, Zoe Bryant, Georgia Bunkers, Nicole Dacus, Ayla Danabasoglu, Abby Ditsworth, Armin Dogic, Tiffany Flohr, Alex Frank, Olivia Franklin, Eric Gallagher, Elaina Hines, Victoria Incandela, Sam Karrick, Ana Kirillov, Ryan Krumholz, Olivia Kube, Emma Kuss, Tom Le, Olivia Lenz, Elma Lidjan, Grace McCollum, Emra Oglecevac, Rebecca Park, Homeen Patel, Zeel Patel, Laura K. Peterson, Kit Reimer, Ava Ressler, Haley Rupert, Sybbie Sears, Megan Seiler, Seth Simonson, Bella Smith, Eric Thai, Alexa Tinder, Irma Vlahovljak, Kaitlyn Wallace, Abby Weiler, Elise Young