By Kaylie Simmons
SCC
This summer, rising high school juniors and seniors from Columbus County and surrounding rural and underserved communities had a unique opportunity to explore careers in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences through the Promoting Innovation and Lifelong Learning in STEM (PILLS) Academy.
Hosted by the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in partnership with Southeastern Community College, the immersive two-day summer camp took place on July 31 and Aug. 1 at SCC.
Participants dove into engaging, hands-on activities such as extracting DNA from strawberries, compounding their own lip balm, and making hand sanitizer. In addition to these interactive demonstrations, students attended panel discussions with practicing pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, offering valuable insight into a wide range of career pathways in the field.
Students also learned how they can begin their pharmacy journey now by taking free Career and College Promise (CCP) classes at their high schools through SCC, allowing them to get a head start on their prerequisites, stay close to home, and save money.
Beyond the two-day event, participants will continue their journey through a year-long virtual mentorship program, connecting them with current PharmD and PhD students at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and licensed pharmacists for ongoing learning and guidance. By combining onsite immersion with mentorship, the PILLS Academy is helping build a more diverse and prepared future workforce in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.
Southeastern Community College is honored to be one of only two North Carolina Community Colleges selected to host the PILLS Academy.
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