Gets scholarship
Eric Gourley of Lebo, sixth-year pharmacy student at the University of Kansas, is one of 10 pharmacy students nationwide who received a $2,000 Partners in Pharmacy scholarship. He was selected based on leadership, academic success and demonstrated interest in advancing the profession, stated the news release.
Gourley and another pharmacy student at KU, Melissa Rufenacht of Ness City, are finalists in the National Community Pharmacists Association business plan contest. The two, who developed a business plan, will present their plan to a panel of judges and a live audience at the association’s 110th annual conference to be held Oct. 11-15 in Tampa, Fla. Their plan is one of three finalists in the competition in which they are also competing for $12,000 in prizes. According to the news release, the competition goal is to motivate pharmacy students to create the blueprint necessary to buy an existing independent community pharmacy or to develop a new pharmacy. The Gourley-Rufenacht team is the second KU team to reach the finals since the competition began in 2004. Gourley, a graduate of Lebo High School, is the son of Doyle and Lori Gourley of Lebo.
Up the hill
Kelsey Rochelle Smith of Council Grove, a freshman and Mount Oread scholar at the University of Kansas will join 228 other Mount Oread students for the 12th annual walk up the hill on Aug. 18, with the “ultimate goal to walk down the hill upon graduation,” stated the news release. Smith, a graduate of Council Grove High School, was invited to become a Mount Oread scholar because she graduated in the top 20 percent of her high school class and received high ACT and SAT scores. Smith, who is studying for a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and dance, is the daughter of Mark and Molly Smith of Council Grove.