Jason Blaser, a first-year pharmacy student from Columbus, Neb., has been crowned the inaugural Mr. Pharmacy in a Feb. 7 event that was part tongue-in-cheek “scholarship” pageant, part skills competition.
Ten pharmacy students took part in the inaugural pageant on Feb. 7, which provided students an outlet for having fun. The students competed in white coat wear and talent, with the finalists moving on to a pharmacy skills race and a Q&A interview session.
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The winners: Jon Ciochon (left), first runner-up, and Jason Blaser, Mr. Pharmacy. |
“It was a riot,” said Ally Dering-Anderson, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmacy practice and one of the judges who donned white wigs and regalia. “The students did such a good job.”
Getting into the spirit of the event, Blaser said, “Growing up in a small town with a fenced in backyard as my world, I never thought I’d come so far and be crowned the first-ever Mr. Pharmacy.
“You might think it would get exhausting trying to dodge all the paparazzi, but I welcome them. It’s all I can do to give back to the Mr. Pharmacy fans that rooted for me during the rigors of the competition.”
John Ridgway, director of the office of experimental programs in the College of Pharmacy, served as emcee. In addition to Dr. Dering-Anderson, other judges included Anna Damgaard-Selden, office associate, and Julie Oestreich, Pharm.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacy practice.
Blaser took home $100 for winning, while first runner-up Jon Ciochon was awarded a $50 prize.