WOMACK RECEIVES WALGREENS PHARMACY TECHNICIAN SCHOLARSHIP

Anita Womack from Southeastern Illinois College’s Mu Psi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa has been awarded a $250 scholarship to cover the cost of the Pharmacy Technician Certification exam fee from Walgreens and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK).

The Walgreens Pharmacy Technician Certification Scholarship recognizes Phi Theta Kappa members who are enrolled in Allied Health or Pharmacy Technician programs and intend to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification exam. Womack is one of 25 students selected to receive this award nationally.

Womack lives in Equality and is a 1990 graduate of Gallatin County High School. When she recently found herself unemployed when the factory she was working for shut its doors, she turned to SIC for retraining to work as a Pharmacy Technician. She completed that program in December, yet has been working for Walgreens since September. She plans to take the certification exam in June.

When asked how she likes her new career, she said, “I like the fast-paced environment and working directly with people.”

She said the class was tough, but very important in understanding the various classes of medications and knowing the names of the top 200 medications – both name brand and generic – in order to do well in her new job. Womack passed the class with an “A.”

After she earns her Pharmacy Technician certificate, Womack aspires to one day transition from retail to hospital tech or perhaps something more specialized like chemotherapy tech. She said there are also jobs in mail order pharmaceuticals and other areas as pharmacy technicians have a variety of opportunities when it comes to their careers.

“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Walgreens to offer career opportunities and scholarships to our members,” said Dr. Monica Marlowe, Executive Director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. “Certification exam costs often create a financial barrier for students that hinders their ability to enter the workforce. We are grateful to Walgreens for addressing these challenges and providing a pathway to great career opportunities.”

The scholarship application is open year-round, and winners are selected twice a year, in the spring and the fall. Up to 50 awards are given each year.

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 10 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.

For more information about SIC’s one-semester Pharmacy Technician certificate, visit sic.edu/pharmtech or contact a recruiter at recruiters@sic.edu.

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