Ceremonies Celebrate Students, Faculty at Wegmans School of Pharmacy

June 2, 2025

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

A group of Pharm.D. graduates at Commencement.

On May 7, members of the Class of 2025 gathered to mark their graduation from the University and recognize their accomplishments as a class.

During opening remarks, Dr. Christine Birnie, dean of the School, offered her congratulations to the graduates.

“Your determination, hard work, and perseverance have brought you here, and we couldn’t be prouder of you,” she said. “This graduating class is our largest class in the history of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy, with 90 students graduating. We know that many of you are pursuing clinical positions in community, health systems, managed care, and furthering your studies in residency programs. We are very proud of each one of you.”

Birnie also noted that the class has helped expand the Fisher pharmacy geographic reach. With half of the students earning their degree through the School’s online pathway, the program is now represented in 15 states.

“Combined with those graduates relocating for residencies and new positions around the country, our program has expanded from a regional school in the northeast to secure a national presence across our country,” she said.

Student awardees included:

  • Dean’s Circle Awards: Belkis F. Kaplan, Callahan Rory Anderson, Emily Ann Austin, Feifei Jia, Jessica Czebatol, Kaitlin Noel Meyer, Mariah Rullan, Raeanne Pettit, Richard Patrick Mosall Jr.
  • APhA-ASP Senior Recognition Certificate: Emily Ann Austin
  • USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award: Kelly Elizabeth Jenkins
  • Merck Academic Excellence in Pharmacy Award: Jamie Nicole Wolfe and Trevor Spalding
  • Viatris Excellence in Pharmacy Award: Emily Ann Austin
  • Excellence in Experiential Education Award: Christopher Joseph Bunk, Nicole Elizabeth Henry, Kelly Elizabeth Jenkins, Natalie Marie Maines, Molly Katherine Moyer, James Riley, Trevor Spalding, and Taylor Lynn Steeprock
  • Wegmans Pharmacy Academic Excellence Award: Emily Ann Austin and Richard Patrick Mosall Jr.
  • Pharmacist Society of the State of New York Award: Jasmine Fiori
  • Deborah A. Steimle Woodard Award: Kaitlin Meyer
  • Pharmacy Graduating Class Gift Scholarship: Kaitlyn Meyer and Korinne Minton
  • Thiem Scholarship: Emily Austin Kelly Jenkins Feifei Jia Kamaladdin Saei Jamie Wolfe
  • NACDS Scholarship: Raeanne Pettit Ivan Valodzka
  • Bank of America Scholarship: Raquel Bayle Taylor Steeprock
  • NACDS Foundation’s “Innovating Patient Care and Pharmacy Practice” scholarship grant: Taylor Steeprock
  • ASHP Clinical Skills Competition: Emily Austin Kelly Jenkins

The ceremony also recognized faculty members and preceptors with awards.

  • Outpatient Preceptor of the Year: Jacob Sprouse, Finger Lakes Community Health and Lou Spadafora, Midland Pharmacy
  • Health System Preceptor of the Year: Michele Handzel, Strong West and Michael Freudiger from St. Agnes Medical Center
  • Faculty Preceptor of the Year: Dr. Shawn Fellows

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

“These awards recognize students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance, leadership, research, and service,” Birnie said.

Awards included:

  • 2025 NCPA Student Chapter Member Excellence Award: Sandra Fenelon (P2)
  • Pharmacy Society of Rochester Scholarship: Corey Plakosh (P3)
  • Jack Brown Clinical Research Award: Megan Gearinger (P3)
  • Swigart Scholarship: Colleen Maclay (P3), Cierra Patrick (P3), Laura Witt (P3)
  • Griffis Excellence in Community Service Scholarship: Brittney Capriotti (P3) and Caitlin George (P3)
  • Griffis International Student Award: Sheila Narh (P3)
  • Thomas and Eileen Hogenkamp Endowed Scholarship: Fares Abumayleh (P1)
  • Walgreens Multilingual Scholarship: Ruby Abedrabbaa (P3)
  • Walgreens Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Scholarship: Elizabeth Hallberg (P3)
  • Thiem Awards: Ruby Abedrabbaa (P3), Michael Currier (P3), Jenna Grabinski (P3), Emily Parsons (P3), James Willard (P2), Laura Witt (P3)
  • SCALE Special Recognition: Elizabeth Setsuda

The recipients of the 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year included:

  • Teacher of the Year Award (P1 online pathway): Dr. Remah Ali
  • Teacher of the Year Award (P2 online pathway): Dr. Remah Ali
  • Teacher of the Year Award (P3 online pathway): Dr. Matt Zak
  • Teacher of the Year Award (P1 campus pathway): Dr. Ramil Sapinoro
  • Teacher of the Year Award (P2 campus pathway): Dr. Amy Parkhill

Teacher of the Year Award (P3 campus pathway): Dr. Lisa Avery