Student Awards

SPPS AMCP student chapter receiving award at 2025 Spring Celebration: Graduation and Awards Luncheon.

Graduating student awards are a noteworthy accomplishment. Awards recognize outstanding graduating students and are presented at the Graduation and Awards Spring Celebration.

About the Awards

  • Awards are based on a variety of criteria, including leadership, service, professionalism and academic merit.
  • Some awards are open to all graduates (PhD, PharmD, MS, BS), while others are specific to PharmD students. See "Criteria" below.
  • Not all awards require nominations - some are determined solely by academic performance.

Nomination Process

  • Students eligible for awards are those in the current graduating class. 
  • Nominations are accepted from students, faculty, and staff.
  • Self-nominations are encouraged!
  • You may nominate the same student for multiple awards (no need to worry about duplication).
  • If an award includes “academic merit,” the Student Success and Engagement Committee (SSEC) will verify eligibility.
  • Participation is encouraged but not required - submit nominations only if you're interested.

Nominations are accepted during the spring semester of the student's final year: January 1 - March 1.

List of Awards

Awards Open for Nominations

Nominations received from students, faculty and staff; award recipients determined by the Student Success and Engagement Committee

Award Name Award Description Criteria

A.B. Lemon Memorial Award

Presented to a member of the graduating class who exemplifies the high ideals of scholarship and dedication to the profession of pharmacy, which were held by Dr. A. Bertram Lemon, former Dean of the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Any (PhD, PharmD, MS, BS) Graduate

Copel and Max Rubenstein Award in Pharmacy

Presented to the graduate with the highest standard of ethics, integrity and humanitarianism.

PharmD only

Daniel H. Murray Memorial Award

Established in 2001 by Thomas Bardos, PhD, in memory of Dean Murray, to recognize a student who is engaged in an innovative research project, has demonstrated extraordinary scholarly work, and has maintained a high level of academic success.

PharmD only

Lilly Achievement Award

Presented by Eli Lilly and Company to a member of the graduating class having demonstrated superior scholastic achievement in the professional curriculum, as well as leadership and professional qualities.

PharmD only

Michael E. Crawford Award

Presented to member of the graduating class who exemplifies a spirit of perseverance and is given in memory of Michael E. Crawford, a 1979 graduate of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Any (PhD, PharmD, MS, BS) Graduate

National Community Pharmacists Association Outstanding Student Award

Presented to a member of the graduating class in recognition of their entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to advancing independent community pharmacy practice.

PharmD only

Renee A. Diederich Award

Presented to a member of the graduating class who has chosen to pursue post-graduate training, and is given in memory of Renee A. Dederich, a 1977 graduate of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, who received her PharmD Degree, posthumously in 1979.

PharmD only

Robert M. Cooper Memorial Award

Presented to a member of the graduating class who exemplifies the qualities of ethics, integrity, and commitment personified by Robert M. Cooper, former professor and Associate Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

PharmD only

Samuel J. Bauda Award

 

Awarded in memory of Samuel J. Bauda, a 1923 graduate of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The presentation is to a member of the graduating class (PharmD) who exemplifies the qualities of leadership and dedication to community health care, desirable in a community pharmacy practitioner. 

PharmD only

UB SPPS Professionalism Award

 

Presented to a member of the graduating class who exhibits the high ideals of professionalism and excellence in patient care.

PharmD only

Viatris Excellence in Pharmacy Award

 

Presented to a member of the graduating class in recognition of high academic achievement and professional motivation in a tangible and professionally meaningful manner.

PharmD only

Awards Selected Without Nominations

Awardees determined by the Student Success and Engagement Committee.

APhA-ASP Senior Recognition Award

Presented to a member of the graduating class in recognition of serving the APhA-ASP Chapter best.

PharmD only

Eino Nelson Award

 

Presented to a member of the graduating class who demonstrated outstanding work in Physical Pharmacy.

PharmD or BS

Excellence in Pharmacogenomics Award

Presented to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated high academic achievement and outstanding work in Pharmacogenomics.

PharmD or BS

Margaret C. Swisher Memorial Award

Awarded in memory of Margaret C. Swisher, Ph.D., by Dr. and Mrs. Alexander Slepian, for presentation to an outstanding pharmacy student (PharmD) in the field of Chemistry.

                 

PharmD only

Merck Manual Award for Academic Excellence

Presented to the top members of the graduating class in recognition of high scholastic achievement. [Note: number of awards determined annually by Merck]

PharmD only

PAWNY Student Leadership Award

Presented to a member of the graduating class who has shown leadership in professional organization activities and has maintained a good scholastic standing in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Student must be a current member of SPAWNY to be eligible.

PharmD only

PSSNY Award

Presented to a member of the graduating class who has shown interest in and has taken part in, PSSNY organization activities.  The criteria for this award are:

1. The recipient shall be an active member of student PSSNY;

2. The recipient shall demonstrate an active interest in the profession;

3. The recipient shall display capacity for leadership in the profession; and

4. The recipient shall have a record for public service.

PharmD only

Robert H. Ritz Award 

Established by Robert H. Ritz, a 1919 graduate of the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, for presentation to the member of the graduating class who attained the highest standing in Pharmacology.

PharmD only

Roger Mantsavinos Award

Presented to the graduate of the PharmD program who demonstrated outstanding work in Pharmacology, in memory of Dr. Roger Mantsavinos, former Associate Professor of Biochemical Pharmacology.

PharmD only

Roy M. Barr Award

Established by Roy M. Barr, a 1914 graduate  of the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, for presentation to the members of the graduating class who have demonstrated outstanding work in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

PharmD or BS

WNYSHP Award

 

Presented to the member of the graduating class having a record of high academic achievement and an interest in institutional practice.

PharmD only

Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication

Presented to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated high scholastic achievement, and superior verbal and written clinical communication skills.

PharmD only

Inpatient Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Award

Presented to the pharmacy graduate for outstanding performance in the inpatient components of the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Program.

PharmD only

Outpatient Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Award

 

Presented to the pharmacy graduate for outstanding performance in the outpatient care component of the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Program.

PharmD only

Lori Esch Memorial Award

Presented to a member of the graduating class for demonstrating achievement in ambulatory pharmacotherapy management with an emphasis on patient counseling and education and who exemplifies the commitment to medication safety and beneficial outcomes personified by Dr. Lori Esch, a former Assistant Professor and HIV Pharmaceutical Care Specialist in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

PharmD only

USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award

Presented to a member of the graduating class for significant contributions to public health through their involvement in promoting wellness and healthy communities, aligning with Healthy People 2030 objectives and the Surgeon General's priorities

PharmD only

APhA-ASP: American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists
PAWNY: Pharmacist Association of Western New York
PSSNY: Pharmacist Society of the State of New York
WNYSHP: Western New York Society of Health System Pharmacists