Ceremonies Celebrate Students, Faculty at Wegmans School of Pharmacy

June 11, 2026

Three ceremonies in May celebrated student and faculty success at the Wegmans School of Pharmacy.

On May 5, members of the Class of 2026 gathered to recognize their accomplishments as a class.

Class of 2026 awardees:

  • Dean’s Circle Awards: Aliaksandra Hare, Chelsea Marie Thames, Laura Helen Witt, Megan Elizabeth Gearinger, Michael Allen Currier, Samuel Dae DeWitt, and Tanner Keith Orfanides
  • APhA-ASP Senior Recognition Certificate: Michael Allen Currier
  • USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award: Corey James Plakosh
  • Merck Academic Excellence in Pharmacy Award: Kathryn Mary Pazderski and Scott Mass
  • Viatris Excellence in Pharmacy Award: Michael Allen Currier
  • Excellence in Experiential Education Award: Cierra Alice Patrick, Corey James Plakosh, Jeffrey Douglas Cullen, Julia Blevins, Kathryn Mary Pazderski, Laura Helen Witt, Michael Allen Currier, and Scott Mass
  • Wegmans Pharmacy Academic Excellence Award: Aliaksandra Hare, Laura Helen Witt, Michael Allen Currier, and Tanner Keith Orfanides
  • The Pharmacists Society of the State of New York Award: Corey James Plakosh
  • Deborah A. Steimle Woodard Award: Michael Currier
  • Thiem Scholarship: Angelina Smith and Tala Alzien
  • Jack Brown Clinical Research Award: Laura Helen Witt
  • Bank of America Scholarship: Karett Cooper
  • ASHP Clinical Skills Competition: Samuel DeWitt and Laura Witt
  • ASHP Student Chapter President Recognition: Laura Witt

The ceremony also recognized preceptors with awards.

  • Online Preceptor of the Year: Tiffany Dryden, AHF Pharmacy and Yemi George, Medical City Lewisville
  • Campus Preceptor of the year: Michelle Stotz, Park Ridge Apothecary
    Health System Preceptor of the Year award: Amy Thien, Highland Family Medicine.

In addition, the School held ceremonies for its P1, P2, and P3 students in the campus and online pathways.  

Awards included:

  • The Wegmans School of Pharmacy Values in Action Award: Eli Adair, Gregory Hartt, Lily Hassid, Hunter Kurz, Sally Buchheimer, Will Chubb, Randy Lin, Claire Rider, Jekhi Roberts, Aaron Weaver, James Willard, and Sara Woytowicz
  • Achievement in Top 200 Award: Mirzi Allyson Agdinaoay, Alaa Al Rahmoun, Gurleen Bhambra,  Austin Counts, Arsany Fahim, Erica Guarino, Shachyah Lewis, Jamal Nassar, Lauren Schultz, Kim Le, Nghi Le, Victoria Ligouri, Amilya Maniphonh, Lena Schiavo, and Hannah Uchal
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences Recognition Award: Austin Counts, Mariam Dager, Arsany Fahim, Sandra Fenelon, Hunter Kurz, Valerie Malachin, Annelise McLean, Valentine Orock, Bobby Emet, Chris Falcon, Kim Le, Matt McLaughlin, Sadie Oldfield, Claire Rider, Matt Schneider, Karis Vega, Aaron Weaver, James Willard, and Sara Woytowicz
  • Alvin F. and Ruth K. Thiem Foundation Scholarships: Tamer Hassan, Sally Buchheimer, Will Chubb, Johnathon Cox, and James Willard
  • Walgreens Multilingual Scholarship: Hena Abdiani
  • The Walgreens Inclusion Award: Tahaara Gazali
  • Griffis Excellence in Community Service Scholarship: Harley Gainer and Rushawn Middleton
  • 2026 NCPA Student Chapter Member Excellence Award: Jasmine Small
    Population Based Healthcare Award: Olivia Godley, Matthew Schneider, and Wendi Wojnovich
  • Dr. Scott Swigart Scholarship: Lucian Sacheli, Tyler Stoetzel, and James Willard

Each year, students in both the campus and online pathways have the opportunity to recognize outstanding faculty members by voting for the faculty they believe demonstrates excellence. The recipients of the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year included: 

  • Teacher of the Year Award (P1 online pathway): Dr. Priyanka Bhatt
  • Teacher of the Year Award (P2 online pathway): Dr. Shawn Fellows
  • Teacher of the Year Award (P3 online pathway): Dr. Lisa Avery
  • Teacher of the Year Award (P1 campus pathway): Dr. Teresa Liu
  • Teacher of the Year Award (P2 campus pathway): Dr. Amy Parkhill
  • Teacher of the Year Award (P3 campus pathway): Dr. Lisa Avery