NDSU PharmD student Alyssa Hodges was selected by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) as recipients of the Walmart Health Equity Scholarship for Pharmacy Students recognizing their leadership, academic success, and a commitment to serving rural or medically underserved patient populations upon graduation.

Students needed to submit application essays describing how their life experiences influenced their decision to pursue a pharmacy career and desire to serve in rural areas, medically underserved areas or populations (MUA/Ps), or Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). They also detailed how they plan to contribute to health equity as a pharmacist in these communities.

Hodges, who is a PharmD/MPH student, states the receiving this scholarship is "A significant motivator for me as I pursue a career dedicated to serving vulnerable populations as an ambulatory care pharmacist. It reinforces the value of my current experience, as well as my dual degree, and hopefully will inspire others to appreciate the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to quality patient care."

Receiving this scholarship supports her engagement not only in her education but also her student organization involvement and raising her daughter.