Student Honors & Awards
Student honors and awards at Manchester University recognize academic excellence, leadership, service, and personal achievement.
These distinctions celebrate the hard work and dedication of students who go above and beyond in their studies and campus involvement. Whether through high academic performance or meaningful contributions to the community, these honors reflect the values and spirit of the Manchester experience.
Dean’s List
Students on the Dean’s List achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher while enrolled in at least 12 credit hours of classes.
With campuses in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., Manchester offers more than 60 areas of academic study to more than 1,400 students in undergraduate programs, a Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics, a Master of Athletic Training, a Master of Accountancy, a professional Doctor of Pharmacy degree and a dual degree in pharmacy and pharmacogenomics.
Merit Pages is a platform showcasing student achievements including news, profiles, and milestones like Dean’s List, internships, scholarships, and athletics. Learn more about the academic and extracurricular successes of our students at Manchester University.
Academic Excellence Banquet
Each spring the students graduating with honors, along with a guest of their choosing, are invited to attend a banquet in their honor. View the list of honored graduates and the event program to read what faculty members had to say about their students!
Latin Honors
Each spring students are honored that are graduating with Latin honors. These students are invited to attend a banquet dinner along with a faculty or staff member that they choose. To graduate with Latin honors, students must complete a minimum of 60 graded credit hours through Manchester University. Credits earned through Pass/No Pass grades do count toward the 60-hour requirement
- Summa cum laude 3.950 to 4.000
- Magna cum laude 3.850 to 3.949
- Cum laude 3.65 to 3.849
Graduation with honors is determined using the final cumulative grade point average.
Realizing the Dream
Independent Colleges of Indiana
Realizing the Dream is a program that acknowledges first-generation college students for outstanding achievement in their freshman year and are now in their sophomore year. It has been funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc. since 1989. The program was conceived and developed by three individuals who had themselves been first-generation college students — Dr. William C. Bonifield, then Vice-President for Education, Lilly Endowment, and now retired Director of McDermond Center for Management and Entrepreneurship, Depauw University; Mr. William DuBois Jr., then President of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Indiana, and now retired Executive Assistant for Public Relations, Ivy Tech Community College; and Dr. Louis C. Gatto, then the retiring President of Marian College (University), and the former Executive Director of the Indiana Educational Facilities Authority.
Each selected student receives a $4,000 scholarship, and they are asked to name an inspiring teacher (elementary or secondary) that most influenced their decision to attend college. The nominated teacher receives a $1,000 Professional Development Grant. In addition, there is a banquet held in Indianapolis to honor the student and their selected teacher. Family members are also encouraged to attend.
Realizing the Dream Recipients
2024 Chloe Steele
2023 Kyle Newcomb
2022 Erica Ortiz
2021 Valeria Jimenez
2020 Heather Binion
2019 Elizabeth Allred
2018 Kayla Carver
2017 Haley Farris
2016 Joshua Holmes
2015 Bradley Williams
2014 Heather DeLorenzo
Pharmacogenomics & Pharmacy Class Awards
Pharmacogenomics Class Awards
Manchester University Pharmacogenomics Program recognizes students in graduating classes with academic excellence throughout the program.
Outstanding PGx Student
Recognizes the PGx student that has demonstrated academic and professional excellence throughout the program.
- 2023 – Award supported by Promega : Ella Machall
- 2022 – Award supported by Agena Bioscience: Meghan Billeck and Ayla Devine
- 2021 – Award supported by Promega : Catherine Demery, Emily Miller
PGx Poster Award Outstanding Research Proposal applied PGx (online student)
Given to the presenter of the most outstanding PGx poster or outstanding research proposal.
- 2022 – Matt Hartman
- 2021 – Amy Turner
PGx Poster Award Outstanding Research Proposal applied PGx (on-campus student)
Given to the presenter of the most outstanding PGx poster or outstanding research proposal.
- 2022 – Taylor Hurst
- 2021 – Matt Grimm
PGx Excellence in Service Award
A student who has demonstrated excellence in the program, University, or community service and who has displayed outstanding leadership and high moral character. This student demonstrates strong acts of character, collaboration, or citizenship to improve student life and conducts special projects to advance the program goals and improve student learning.
- 2022 – Meghan Billeck
- 2021 – Annika Geistkemper
Pharmacy Class Awards
Manchester University Pharmacy Program recognizes students in graduating classes with academic excellence, achievements in various fields, and community service.
Lilly Achievement Award
Demonstrated achievement in area of diabetes care.
- 2022 – Riley Eichenauer
- 2021 – Chloe Nestel
- 2020 – Michael Berna
Merck Manual Award Scholastic Achievement in Pharmacy Studies
Recognizes two students for their scholastic achievement in pharmacy studies.
- 2022 – Zachary Martin, Riley McCafferty
- 2021 – Tania Cruz, Ermina Begovic
- 2020 – Dylan Burns and Austin LeClure
Excellence in Pharmacy Award
Recognizes a student that exhibits high professional motivation, practice orientation, and superior proficiency in the provision of drug information services.
- 2022 – Award Recognized by Viatris – Sherry Wong
- 2021 – Award Recognized by Mylan Pharmacueticals – Dylan Walker
- 2020 – Award Recognized by Mylan Pharmacueticals – Eva Escobedo
Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication
Recognizes a graduating student for their outstanding academic achievements and communication skills.
- 2022 – Zachary Martin
USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award
Recognizes a graduating student for their demonstrated commitment to the creation and support of public health initiatives within their surrounding communities.
- 2022 – Daniel Reyes
- 2021 – Andrea Knutson
- 2020 – Carly Gilliam
APhA-ASP Senior Recognition Award
Recognizes a student that displayed outstanding and sustained contributions to Manchester APhA-ASP Chapter.
- 2022 – Lucas Shelly
- 2021 – Zach Hodgson
- 2020 – Eva Escobedo
ASHP Outgoing President Award
Recognizes the outgoing President of ASHP.
- 2022 – Brianna Stafford
- 2020 – Bruce Herndon
Community Service Engagement Award
Recognizes graduating students who displayed an unwavering commitment to our program’s vision – to improve the human condition through service.
- 2022 – Patrick Hallis, Jenelle Dushane, Kelsey Medlin
- 2021 – Nadine Daoud
- 2020 – Marisarah Torres
Excellence in Research Award
Recognizing a graduating student who has achieved academic success and made a significant contribution to the research efforts of the program.
- 2022 – Amanda Rothgeb
- 2021 – Karrington Craig
- 2020 – Marwa Farhat
Excellence in Clinical Practice Award
Recognizes the graduating student who has achieved academic success and demonstrated excellence in clinical pharmacy practice throughout their program.
- 2022 – Riley McCafferty
- 2021 – Ermina Begovic
- 2020 – Kyra Clark
Distinguished Professional Leadership Award
Recognizes three graduating students for their willingness to serve and develop as leaders within the pharmacy program.
- 2022 – Eric Beard, Ryan Borders, Brianna Stafford
- 2021 – Zachary Hodgson
- 2020 – Molly Corder, Marwah Dabaja, Eva Escobedo
APPE Student of the Year
Recognizes a graduating student for excellence in the experiential setting.
- 2022 – Dakota Smith
- 2021 – Taylor Chatterson
- 2020 – Merianna Nadrous
Leadership in Pharmacy Practice Track Participants
- 2022 – Talaha Ahmad, Katie Castaneda, Kody Jones, Olivia Jones, Katherine Singh, Adam Strebig
Residency Track Participants
- 2022 – Eric Beard, Mark Botros, Daniel Reyes, Sarah Iskander, May Joseph, Zachary Martin, Lucas Shelly, Dakota Smith
Research in Pharmacy Practice Track Participants
- 2022 – Mireille Ishimwe
Pharmacy and Pharmacogenomics Dual Degree Recipients
- 2022 – Eric Beard, Mark Botros, Jacob Hoger, Lucas Shelly, Dakota Smith, Brianna Stafford
Outstanding Laboratory Research Award
- 2021 – Kendal Littlefield
- 2020 – Ping Lin
Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication
- 2021 – Ellen Line
- 2020 – Curtis Stump
Dean’s Excellence Award
- 2021 – Jeremy Gregerson
- 2020 – Curtis Stump
Jo Young Switzer Award
- 2021 – Blain Thayer
- 2020 – Sara Zeer
Pharmacy Program Scholars Day Awards
Dean's Scholarship for Pharmacy Students
Recognizing a student in good academic standing that demonstrates high academic integrity, exhibits professionalism, demonstrates involvement within the profession and dedicated to community service.
- 2023: Alex Demotte
- 2022: Samantha Alspaugh
- 2021: Megan Gushrowski
CVS Health Foundation Pharmacy School Scholarship
Recognizes 3 students in good academic standing, interested in community pharmacy, bilingual, and that have volunteered or interned with an organization that supports under-served populations.
- 2023: Lydia Doss and Koyel Bhanja
- 2022: Kerols Botros, Dominick Kada, and Jackline Muia
- 2021: Aya Hawa, Mazharul Chowdhury, and Eniola Idowu
CVS Spanish Foundations Scholarship
Recognizes 2 students in good academic standing, interested in community pharmacy, and are fluent in Spanish.
- 2023: Roile Casanova and Phillip Daniels Jr.
- 2022: John Schroeder Camacho, Carol Mejia Perez
Walgreens Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Award
Recognizing a student in good academic standing, representing an underrepresented minority group, who embrace diversity and promote diversity and inclusion awareness initiatives on campus.
- 2023: Daphne Lamar
- 2022: Breia Leavell
- 2021: Kerols Botros
Walgreens Multilingual Scholarship
Recognizing a student in good academic standing, interested in community pharmacy and is fluent in speaking one or more languages in addition to English.
- 2023: John Melika
- 2022: Amela Agic