Touro College of Pharmacy Students Inducted into Top Honor Society
Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society Recognizes Students With “Outstanding Qualities of Leadership and Service.”
Twenty-one Touro College of Pharmacy (TCOP) students were inducted into the Delta Sigma chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS), a national pharmacy honors fraternity that recognizes student pharmacists who demonstrate high levels of leadership and service.
The following students were inducted: Andrew Jose, represented by Emily Messing; Arooj Akhtar; Ashley Szeto; Christine Nguyen; Christopher Mendoza; Hoang Nguyen; Ida Ong; Katherine Joseph; Kingsley Ohikuare; Kristina Luo; Kristle Farquharson; Marisol Ibarra; Olawonuola Abiona; Peter Hoang; Philip Armendi; Sabrina Truc; Shalon Jones; Sharii Kidd, represented by Arielle Chase; Tiffany Murray; Victor Chen; and Yeon Hee Yu.
Dr. Zvi Loewy, Interim Dean of the College of Pharmacy, welcomed students and guests at the beginning of the event. In speaking about the “making of a leader,” he encouraged students to “seize opportunities, take initiatives, and strive to bring out the best in people. Leadership begins during education,” he declared.
Dr. Jillian Foster, the Phi Lambda Sigma National Representative, was the VIP guest of the evening. After she formally presented the Chapter charter, she and Dean Zvi Loewy initiated the members, awarding them with key pins bearing a mortar and pestle (a long-standing symbol of ethics in pharmacy) and a wreath of laurel (representing leadership and wisdom). The candle-lit initiation ceremony took place in the fourth floor student lounge with friends and family in attendance.
“We believe that you have demonstrated the moral character, ethical standards, and the leadership ability to advance pharmacy to the highest level,” said Dr. Foster, before pinning and cording each initiate with the assistance of TouroCOP faculty Dr. Mary Choy, Dr. Charnicia Huggins, and Dr. Yeismel Miranda-Valdes.
Newly elected president of Phi Lambda Sigma’s Delta Sigma Chapter, Chris Mendoza (P3), delivered the Incoming President’s Address, while Associate Professor of Pharmacy Dr. Keith Veltri, who was also installed as faculty member, offered concluding remarks.
“We are called leaders because we are the ones that go first, because we take the risk before anybody else does, because we choose—to quote Gandhi— to be the change we wish to see in our profession,” said Mendoza in his speech.
Associate Dean for Student Affairs Michael Escott said the ceremony was “truly a wonderful and well organized event.”
“These were clearly some of our very best students and student leaders who deserved to be recognized,” he said.
