May 12, 2023
The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy hosted the First Annual Golden Mortar Awards to celebrate student achievement, faculty and preceptor excellence and outstanding alumni.
The Hollywood-style awards ceremony was held at the Varsity Theatre in downtown Chapel Hill and was emceed by Libby Powell, fourth year student body president, and Adam Persky, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Professional Education.
In addition to celebrating the graduating class of 2023, the class of 1973 was honored, marking their 50th reunion. Honorees from the class were inducted into the 50+ Club with a pinning ceremony.
2023 Golden Mortar Award Recipients:
Office of Professional Education Academic Excellence Award
Marshall Dean Winget
Jamie Gasaway Kilar Patient Care Award
Kendra Louise Gee-Rodriguez
Reddick-Wicker Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award
Tazche Turner
Ballenger-Smith Award for Excellence in the Pharmaceutical Care Laboratory
Allison Eikenberry
Lynn F. Kieffer Excellence Award
Brandyn Charles Wilcox
Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics Achievement Award
Catherine E. Donnell
John C. Hood, Sr. Award in Practice Advancement and Clinical Education
Kyle Jansen
Kappa Epsilon Award
Dhrumi Patwa
James L. Creech Award in Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics
Esha Thakkar
Irvin Graham Award in Pharmaceutical Policy and Outcomes
Grace Trull Marley
M.L. Jacobs Award in Medicinal Chemistry
Emma Meyer
F.O. Bowman Award
Binxin (Bessie) Cao
Boka Hadzija Student Excellence Award
Elizabeth (Libby) Anne Powell
Mikey Nam Well-Being and Resiliency Award
Valeria Cristal Laboy Collazo
George H. Cocolas Pharmacy Student Body Award
Neel Swamy
Phi Lambda Sigma Leadership Award
Ashley Mariah Gleaton
Samuel Burrus Award for Community Service (Student)
Christian Asia Brown
Samuel Burrus Award for Community Service (Alumni)
Mary Hooks
PY1 Instructor of the Year Award
Adam Persky, Ph.D.
PY2 Instructor of the Year Award
Suzanne C. Harris, Pharm.D.
PY3 Instructor of the Year Award
Dennis Williams, Pharm.D.
Overall Instructor of the Year
Dennis Williams, Pharm.D.
The Claude Paoloni Preceptor of the Year
Stephanie Iyer, Pharm.D. (UNC Health)
Tiffany Barber, Pharm.D. (Hillsborough Pharmacy)
Sophia DeBerry, Pharm.D. (CarolinaEast Medical Center)
Pharmacy Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award
Tab Waldrop
Meritorious Service Award
Pam Joyner, M.S. Pharm, Ed.D.