SCC hosts PILLS Academy to inspire future pharmacy professionals
Southeastern Community College hosted the PILLS Academy on June 17–18, providing high school students with hands-on exposure to pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences through a partnership with the UNC Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
The free, two-day camp is designed for rising juniors and seniors interested in exploring careers in pharmacy and other STEM fields. Through interactive labs, competitions and panel discussions, students gained insight into the many educational and career pathways available in the industry.
Hands-on learning and career exploration
According to Ken Buck, SCC’s Career and Technical Education Coordinator, the 2026 camp “went extremely well,” offering students a variety of engaging STEM-based experiences.
Participants rotated through activities such as the Germ Buster Lab, Balm Lab, Patient Safety Showdown, Berry Blast DNA Lab, Making Medication exercises, and a Medication Design competition.
Students also participated in panel discussions with local and regional pharmacists including Mary Hooks, Lakeshea Love and Grace Marley. The “More than Medicine” panel featured UNC Chapel Hill PharmD and Ph.D. graduates and candidates that included Ronny Bell, Benjamin Strickland, Alita Miller, Shelton Boyd and Andres Prieto.
SCC is one of only two community colleges in North Carolina selected to partner with UNC Chapel Hill on the initiative, alongside Western Piedmont Community College.
“The goal is to bring this type of camp to rural portions of the state in an effort to make rural students aware of the many opportunities and avenues that are available,” Buck said.
The academy is funded through a three-year grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, secured by UNC Chapel Hill, and is currently in its second year.
As the SCC facilitator, Buck coordinated with UNC organizers to plan, promote and execute the event, ensuring all logistics and campus preparations were in place.
UNC Chapel Hill partnership
Dr. Wendy Cox of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy served as the principal investigator for the program and oversaw the grant supporting the PILLS Academy.
She said one of the most rewarding aspects of the academy is interacting with students and watching their excitement grow.
“It was great to see students get excited about science and math concepts, along with potential careers in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences,” Cox said. “Our goal is to inspire students to go to college and pursue a career in a STEM field.”
Cox emphasized the importance of connecting high school students with PharmD students and Ph.D. candidates, who served as role models throughout the camp.
“They do a great job of making science fun and bringing it to life,” she said. “Students not only participated in hands-on activities, but they also talked one-on-one with them about their experiences and career paths.”
She said the academy was designed for students who are still exploring their options.
“They don’t have to know what career they want to pursue yet,” Cox said. “This is an opportunity to explore the possibilities of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.”
Cox said she was pleased with how the academy was received at SCC and expressed appreciation for the college’s partnership.
“Southeastern Community College has been an outstanding partner,” she said. “The students seemed to have a great time, and we appreciate SCC’s commitment to helping us expose high school students to careers in STEM and pharmacy.”
Student perspectives
For many participants, the academy offered valuable insight into potential career paths while fostering connections with professionals and mentors in the field.
Eli Brown, a rising junior at West Columbus High School, attended the PILLS Academy to expand his interest in pharmacy. With both of his parents working as pharmacists, Brown wanted to explore the field for himself.
“My favorite part of this camp was the two panel discussions,” Brown said. “We got to interview and ask questions to pharmacists and Ph.D. candidates, and they provided first-hand stories about pharmacy and the many paths we can take within that career. It really inspired me and made me realize that there is a real potential future for me in pharmacy.”
Brown said he plans to attend the academy again next summer and looks forward to gaining even more hands-on experience.
Tristain Fowler, a rising senior at Columbus Career and College Academy, returned to the PILLS Academy after participating last year. With a strong interest in science and biomedical engineering, he said the experience helped him continue building his knowledge and skills.
Fowler highlighted the opportunity to work with Ph.D candidates from UNC Chapel Hill as a standout aspect of the program.
“The Ph.D.s were my favorite part of the academy because they are amazing people,” Fowler said. “They remember your name and really offer their help the entire time. With them here, everyone got more access to the information about pharmacy.”
During this year’s camp, Fowler presented independent research on water filtration using samples from Lake Waccamaw and secured a mentorship with a Ph.D. candidate who supported his work. He said the experience strengthened his interest in research and encouraged him to continue pursuing opportunities in science.
Looking ahead
SCC plans to host the PILLS Academy again next summer, continuing its partnership with UNC Chapel Hill to provide students in rural communities with access to high-quality STEM experiences.
While dates for the 2027 academy have not yet been finalized, planning is expected to begin during the fall semester, with continued focus on expanding student awareness of careers in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.
