Bringing Home More Than Awards: Celebrating Our SNPhA Chapter at National Conference
UMSOP SNphA members in the national conference’s exhibition hall on Aug. 2, 2026. Back row from left: Tatiana Egbunine and Osereme Eromosele, third-year student pharmacists; Ifeatu Menakaya, fourth-year student pharmacist, and Solomon Jenkins, third-year student pharmacist. Middle row from left: Lucrece Chiogo, third-year student pharmacist; Trisan Matthews, second-year student pharmacist; and Larissa Ahanogbe, third-year student pharmacist. Front row from left: Renee Ofori, second-year student pharmacist, and Amiya Jenkins, third-year student pharmacist.
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By Amiya Jenkins, third-year student pharmacist and president of UMSOP’s chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA)
Upon going to the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) National Conference on July 31-Aug. 3 in Rockville, MD, we knew we were going to network, compete, learn, and represent the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. I did not expect to return with such a strong sense of accomplishment and pride in the people I am fortunate enough to call my fellow chapter members.
Throughout the conference, our members showed that success can be seen in different forms. From competition placements and scholarships to professional certifications and national leadership, our chapter members demonstrated their dedication to personal and professional growth.
As the incoming president of our chapter, witnessing these accomplishments gave me greater motivation to strive for excellence during this academic year.
Putting Our Knowledge to the Test
Two of our biggest accomplishments at the national conference came through competitions, as they challenged our members to apply what we have learned beyond a classroom setting.
Larissa Ahanogbe and I competed in the SNPhA x Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists Germ Genius Competition, a Jeopardy-style event featuring a variety of infectious disease questions. After a very challenging experience against other student pharmacists, we were proud to earn second place!
Our chapter also earned third place in the Prescription for Service Challenge, which recognizes chapters based on the impact they have made within their communities. Solomon Jenkins, Ifeatu Menakaya, and I were recognized for our Nalox-ZONE initiative, where we increased access to naloxone, educated Baltimore community members about overdose prevention, and reduced the stigma surrounding naloxone and opioid overdose.
Investing in Professional Growth
The accomplishments did not stop with competitions.
Tiffany Frimpong and Jel Kemz Mboum Sipouo earned their Social Determinants of Health certification after completing a series of webinars. These webinars focused on understanding what social determinants of health are, identifying them when interacting with patients, and knowing resources for individuals who have been affected by different social needs. This experience provided members with an opportunity to think beyond medications and consider circumstances that could influence a patient’s health and ability to receive care.
Three of our members, Tiffany Frimpong, Jel Kemz Mboum Sipouo, and Trisan Matthews, also received academic scholarships.
Seven of our members — Trisan Matthews, Elizabeth Odusayna, Osereme Eromosele, Solomon Jenkins, Larissa Ahanogbe, Renee Ofori, and I — participated in the Leadership Academy, where we explored our individual leadership styles, learned how they interact with others, and discussed how we could use our strengths to build stronger communities within our respective schools.
Seeing my peers receiving these opportunities was rewarding, and I’m glad to be surrounded by individuals who continuously strive for excellence.
Representing SNPhA on a National Level
One of our greatest accomplishments was seeing our past president, Ifeatu Menakaya, be inducted onto the SNPhA Board as the Region 4 facilitator.
In this role, Ifeatu will serve as a point of contact for 16 pharmacy schools within the South-Central/Southwestern region of the United States. He will help support these chapters and ensure they have the resources needed to operate their organization to the best of their abilities.
Having someone from our chapter step into a national leadership role is something I am incredibly proud of. It demonstrates the impact someone from our School can have on broader communities.
Stepping Outside Our Comfort Zones
Two additional members, Renee Ofori and Makala Brent, participated in the Clinical Skills Competition. The competition gave our University of Maryland School of Pharmacy members a unique opportunity to apply what they have learned to a clinical case.
Renee, just completing her first year of pharmacy school, and Makala, just completing her third year, brought different levels of experience and perspectives as they approached the challenge. Watching our members step into these opportunities was a reminder that growth comes from being willing to challenge yourself. Whether it’s competing, learning, or simply putting your skills to the test, every experience provides an opportunity to become a stronger student pharmacist.
More Than an Organization
Looking back at the conference, it wasn’t the individual awards I’m most proud of; it was being surrounded by intelligent, driven, and talented people who genuinely strive to be the best version of themselves.
SNPhA is filled with amazing, motivated individuals, but it’s also an organization rooted in community. We strive to create an environment where members are encouraged to challenge themselves, pursue opportunities, and celebrate one another’s successes. Our conference reflected that.
I hope our conference recap provided a glimpse of what the organization can offer. It is a space where student pharmacists can develop personally and professionally, build meaningful relationships, serve their communities, and challenge themselves to grow.