Ole Miss graduate student Meghan Wagner was selected as a fellow for the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.
Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The organization awards annual fellowships to aid students who are enrolled in graduate school.
“I heard about the fellowship through an email from a faculty member involved with Phi Kappa Phi,” Wagner said. “I will be studying pharmacy at The University of Mississippi and working towards a doctor of pharmacy degree.”
Phi Kappa Phi awards 51 fellowships of $5,000 each and six of $15,000 each to members entering their first year of graduate or professional study. Each Phi Kappa Phi chapter may select one candidate from among its local applicants to compete for the society-wide awards.
According to Michael L. Warren, clinical pharmacy assistant professor at the University, Phi Kappa Phi’s motto is “let the love of learning rule humanity” and the various awards that are provided each year by the society reinforces their commitment to education.
“Aside from the financial benefit, I think it likely affirms to recipients that their dedication to learning has not gone unnoticed and is expected to carry over into future educational efforts as well as benefit the lives of those who are later touched after graduation,” Warren said.
Wagner expressed that receiving the fellowship was an honor and noted that the financial assistance was a great help to her.
“I was really honored to be chosen both by Ole Miss, as they could only choose one student to submit to nationals, and by Phi Kappa Phi,” Wagner said. “Even in undergrad, pharmacy is an expensive path to take, so the monetary assistance is always great to have.”
As an early-entry student, Wagner has been involved in the school of pharmacy since her freshman year. She said her time has helped her learn what it means to be a health professional and how to talk to, assist and learn from people.
“I was always a high-achieving student,” Wagner said, “but pharmacy made me work that much harder to meet my own personal expectations, and to have a distinguished group recognize that effort and find it worthy of backing was really special to me.”
Wagner was inspired to be a pharmacist after she heard the story of a British girl named Hayley Okines, who suffered from a disease called Progeria.
“It was actually a documentary I saw one night when I couldn’t sleep,” Wagner said. “The disease had a life expectancy of around 14-16 years. I was incredibly inspired by Hayley’s strength, optimism and humor even in the face of her illness and I thought that she and others in those situations deserved to have someone searching for a treatment and helping them live the best lives possible. That’s when I decided on pharmacy and it’s also why I’m interested in the specialty of pediatrics.”
Being a part of groups such as the professional pharmacy fraternity Kappa Epsilon, PediaRebs and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has helped expose her to the vast number of career options and opportunities a pharmacist can have beyond retail.
“She is a gifted student with a positive attitude and professional demeanor,” Warren said. “Meghan is actively engaged in community service, both on and off campus. She is passionate about having a positive impact on children’s lives after graduating from pharmacy school.”
In the future, Wagner plans to make a difference in people’s lives using her knowledge of pharmacy.
“As I’ve begun to get more experience in pharmacy through my work at an independent store and throughout my rotations,” Wagner said. “I’ve realized the impact I and my field can have in the future and I appreciate the help to get me to the point where I can make a difference in the lives of my future patients.”
