PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Weaver, Melony Ritter
(501) 760.6410 office
press@np.edu
July 18, 2016
PHARMACY TECH PROGRAM GRADUATES 19
Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) Pharmacy Technician Program hosted a recognition ceremony July 12 for its first class of graduates. Nineteen students began the program March 29 and will be recognized for completion of their 80-hour classroom training for pharmacy technician.
Graduates include, Collene Atchley, Lauren Black, Kevin Bunch, Jean Carpenter, Jennifer Diaz, Richard Dunlap, Brandie Elledge, Katelyn Hunter, Jane Kowalkowski, Amanda Long, Amber Merritt, Briana Sport, Lorra Stinson, Melissa Stone, Dustin Tart, Jayme Vaughn, Melanie Wilder, Patricia Wright, and Jonathan Wykoff.
Pictured left to right: Jayme Vaughn, Briana Sport, Jane Kowalkowski, Jennifer Diaz,
Kevin Bunch, and Lauren Black at the recognition ceremony.
The Community & Corporate Training Center at National Park College offers the Pharmacy Technician training program through the Arkansas Apprenticeship Pathways Initiative grant in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services and Arkansas Community Colleges. Grant funding covers students’ tuition, books, state licensing fees, and national certification exam through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
In addition to the coursework, the program requires students to complete an 80-hour externship with a partner pharmacy. A number of graduates have already secured employment with Walgreens Pharmacy and Budget Pharmacy. Others will begin externships with grant partner, CVS Health this month. Graduates Amber Merritt, Jennifer Diaz and Melissa Stone have each passed the national certification exam, and Merritt has already completed her externship requirements and obtained state licensure.
Kelli Albrecht, Vice President for Workforce & Strategic Initiatives, stated, “Our first class of pharmacy technician students was an incredible group. We were fortunate to have an incredible instructor, Carlissa Dillick, who kept the students motivated and made the classroom experience engaging. I look forward to celebrating the students’ successes at the recognition ceremony.”
“[The program] definitely opened my eyes to a lot of things a pharmacy tech does,” said certification recipient Jennifer Diaz. “When I first started I didn’t know a lot about it. It was interesting learning about the roles of a tech. Our teacher Carly was awesome; she helped us feel comfortable and was able to teach the reality of pharmacy tech versus just reading about it in a book. She prepared us for what to expect and I’m excited to see what path this certification will take me down.”
