By Kristi Lopez

The American Pharmacy Association presented awards to third-year UK pharmacy student Debra J. Flores of Radcliff, Jeff Mills of Beckley, W.Va., and the UK chapter of the American Pharmacy Association Academy of Students of Pharmacy.

March 29, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- Students from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy brought home three national awards during the recent American Pharmacy Association Academy of Students of Pharmacy (APhA-ASP) Awards Ceremony in Philadelphia.

Third-year pharmacy student Debra J. Flores of Radcliff, Ky., was one of four pharmacy students in the nation to be selected for the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) Student Leadership Award for 2002. Flores, daughter of Dr. George and Ursa Flores of Radcliff, is a 1993 graduate of North Hardin High School and received a B.A. in chemistry at Bellarmine University. Flores' leadership efforts at UK include serving as the chair of the board of the Kentucky Alliance of Pharmacy Students (KAPS) and as APhA Midyear Regional Meeting Coordinator. The APhA Student Leadership Award recognizes students entering their last year of pharmacy school who combine the best of academic achievements with leadership ability.

Jeff Mills, fourth-year pharmacy student from Beckley, W.Va., received first runner-up in the national patient counseling competition also held in Philadelphia. Mills competed against pharmacy students from more than 80 pharmacy schools in the United States. Mills won the UK patient counseling competition in January to qualify for the national contest.

"This competition gives students practical work in counseling patients. The association (APhA) gives students a scenario and they then must make a diagnosis," said Mills. Upon graduation in May, he hopes to earn his Masters of Business Administration and complete a residency in managed care.

The UK College of Pharmacy chapter of the American Pharmaceutical Association Academy of Students of Pharmacy also received the chapter achievement award for class AA (pharmacy schools with enrollment of 300 to 400 students). Fourth-year student Patrick Gaines, president of the UK chapter, accepted the award on behalf of the students.

The American Pharmaceutical Association is the first established and largest professional association of pharmacists in the United States. APhA's 50,000 members include practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, pharmacy students, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession.