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Students in the College of Pharmacy awarded the 2012 Melinda Rhea Garrett Scholarship to first-year pharmacy students Rhys Moore of Germantown. Tenn., and Alexandra Punke of Sevierville, Tenn.
The scholarship fund was established by students in the UT College of Pharmacy chapter of APhA-ASP (the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists).Its purpose is to honor the memory of their classmate, Melinda Rhea Garrett, who died during her first year in the College of Pharmacy.
Moore graduated from Houston High School and pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at the University of Arkansas, where he was a member of the Razorback Marching Band. He also earned the highest level of honors from the Honors College, Summa Cum Laude, and became a member of Phi Beta Kappa. While at UTHSC, Moore plans to join the AphA-ASP and participate in various other organizations and intramural recreation.
Punke graduated as one of the valedictorians of Sevier County High School’s 2009 class. She was accepted into pharmacy school after completing three years of prerequisites at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She belongs to AphA-ASP and looks forward to uniting with fellow students who share the same passion for counseling people about their medications.
The first award was made in 2011 to Brian Winbigler (P4), who attends the College of Pharmacy on the campus of UT Knoxville, where he has been active in pharmacy professional organizations, student leadership, and fund-raising for the Melinda Rhea Garrett scholarship.
A short list of Winbigler’s achievements takes in nearly every student organization and activity in the College of Pharmacy: He was PSGA executive vice president last year; a member of the college’s honors, awards, and scholarship committee, and Phi Lambda Sigma vice president. He was the social chair for his class’s P1 and P2 years and served as the P3 president.
Winbigler has already completed two internships at community pharmacies and is now completing an internship in clinical pharmacy at Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville. “I love hospital and community pharmacy,” he says. “But, I think I’ll be happiest starting my own business, finding my own niche, maybe something like a home infusion business.”
Garrett, the daughter of Dale and Fay Garrett of McKenzie, Tenn., graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she belonged to Alpha Delta Pi. She was also a University Scholar, president of the Panhellenic Council, and a member of the homecoming court and Miss UTM royalty.
“Melinda could light up a room with her smile,” recalls Stephanie Phelps, associate dean, academic affairs. “She was a natural leader and had a passion to make things in our college and in the profession better.”
To contribute to the Melinda Rhea Garrett scholarship fund, contact Nell Blair, development director at (901) 448-8202 or by e-mail at NellBlair@uthsc.edu.