Scholarship applications for the 2024-2025 school year are now closed.
The NCPA Foundation Willard B. Simmons Sr. Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student with demonstrated leadership qualities, academic achievement, and an interest in independent community pharmacy and in independent pharmacy management and entrepreneurism. The recipient will receive a $2,000 scholarship as well as a $300 travel stipend and a complimentary registration to the NCPA Annual Convention.
Award Criteria
The NCPA Foundation Willard B. Simmons Sr. Memorial Scholarship will be made on the following basis:
- Independent Pharmacy Management: Demonstrated interest in independent pharmacy management and entrepreneurism. These qualities will be measured by the required supporting documents.
- Leadership Qualities: Leadership qualities and accomplishments with a demonstrated interest in independent pharmacy, as well as involvement in extracurricular activities. These qualities will be measured by the required supporting documents.
- Academic Achievement: Scholastic success is a necessary condition for consideration and will be measured using current college transcripts.
Please provide the following:
- Most recent **official** transcript (May be submitted separately)
- Letter from School Official or Pharmacy Owner/Manager (Preferably from an NCPA member) (2-page max; May be submitted separately) Should include:
- An introduction that identifies the recommender and their relationship to the student.
- Why the student should receive a scholarship including:
- General observations and thoughts about the student’s strengths, relevant qualities, experiences, and skills, including their commitment to independent pharmacy.
- Specific examples that support those observations and thoughts.
- Why the student is a good fit for a scholarship.
- Resume or CV listing student’s work experience, advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) and peer-reviewed research and other major publications, as well as extracurricular activities.
- Willard B. Simmons Sr. Memorial Scholarship Statement from Applicant.(up to 500 words) Briefly describe:
- School and civic accomplishments and goals for the future;
- Demonstrated interest in independent pharmacy;
- Description of interest in independent pharmacy management and entrepreneurism.
Eligibility
One scholarship may be awarded. All pharmacy students who are national NCPA student members are eligible to apply for NCPA Foundation Scholarships. The student must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. school or college of pharmacy on a full-time basis during the academic term that the scholarship is awarded. The student must be within 24 months of graduation.
Students may apply for multiple scholarships but will not be awarded more than one scholarship per year and will not be awarded a particular scholarship more than once.
Children of NCPA Foundation Officers, NCPA Officers, or NCPA Executive Committee members are not eligible to participate in the program.
Scholarship recipients will be recognized at the NCPA Foundation Awards Ceremony on the Sunday of the NCPA Annual Convention. It is highly recommended the scholarship recipient attend the NCPA Annual Convention. For scholarship winners who are able to attend the Convention in the year the scholarship is awarded, a $300 travel stipend will be provided along with a complimentary registration.
Payment Process
The scholarship is awarded on an individual basis and is non-transferable.
The NCPA Foundation disburses the funds directly to the school at the time of the NCPA Annual Convention in October to be put towards the recipient’s account in accordance with the school’s policies.
The NCPA Foundation typically allocates the funds to the Spring semester, but the scholarship recipient may request the funds be allocated to the Fall semester.
The NCPA Foundation will not change the academic year in which the scholarship is awarded.
If the recipient drops out of their program for any reason, NCPA Foundation will likely be notified by the school’s financial aid office and the return of funds will be requested.
Transfer from one accredited school or college of pharmacy to another is permitted, provided the academic standards of the previous institution have been met at the time of transfer.
Students are encouraged to assess ahead of time if being awarded the scholarship funds will alter their access to financial aid, i.e. GradPLUS Loans.