Tab and Denise Waldrop Endowed Scholarship supports students of active-duty military parents

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Brittany Jennings
September 20, 2021

Tab and Denise Waldrop both grew up with fathers in the United States military.

Tab’s dad was a combat engineer who served in the Army during World War II and Denise’s dad was a career Marine stationed at Cherry Point and New River Marine Corps Air Stations on the coast of North Carolina. Through their own lived experiences, the couple understands the sacrifices military families make, both financially and emotionally, for their children.

That’s why they’ve established the Tab and Denise Waldrop Endowed Scholarship at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy to support pharmacy students whose parents are active duty or were active-duty military at the time student was enrolled. Tab, an alumni of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy (’84) and current member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and chair of the Foundation’s Campaign Cabinet, and Denise, a retired nurse, also understand the importance of supporting future leaders in health care.

This year’s recipient of the Tab and Denise Waldrop Endowed Scholarship is first year pharmacy student and Carolina undergrad alum, Eric Arrington. Eric too had a father in the Army who recently retired as a lieutenant colonel after 28 years of service.

“We wanted to be able to recognize a deserving Pharm.D. student who upon entering college, their parent or parents were active in service,” Tab said. “We wanted to recognize Eric for those sacrifices and wish him all the best in his Pharm.D. academic career.”

This is the first year the scholarship will be given to a first-year student, as the Waldrops wanted to support the selected recipient through all four years of their Pharm.D. degree.

“Growing up as a military child gave me the opportunity to move around and experience different cultures and interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds. I lived in New York, Georgia, Louisiana, Virginia, Germany and many other places growing up,” Eric said. “Growing up in this manner helped me realize that I want to be in a position to help and interact with people from all walks of life. Health care is one field that would help me accomplish this goal, and I had a specific interest in pharmacy due to the large variety of career opportunities it provides.”

In a video to Tab and Denise, Eric says he is thankful for the couple’s contributions to his education and is excited to be a part of the endowed scholarship.

Get to know Eric and Tab in this video.