After years of being in the top three but never ascending to the top spot, the College of Pharmacy’s student chapter of the National Community Pharmacy Association was named Chapter of the Year by the NCPA Foundation. The UGA group competed against more than 100 other student chapters from colleges across the nation for the coveted spot. The award and $2000 prize were presented during the organization’s Annual Convention Oct. 18-21 in New Orleans.
In a letter congratulating UGA NCPA, Dr. Drew Register, director of NCPA Student Affairs and Professional Development at national headquarters remarked, “You should be incredibly proud of your hard work and dedication. Your achievements are a testament to the passion and energy you bring to advancing the future of independent pharmacy. Congratulations!”
The Chapter of the Year is awarded to the student organization that excelled in promoting independent pharmacy through innovative events and service activities, including advocacy, community service and outreach, and fundraising. Student chapters submitted an End-of-Year Report, which summarizes the chapter’s engagement in independent pharmacy programming and activities.
Among the winning attributes listed in the UGA NCPA end of year report, the chapter raised more than $5,000 to support the chapter’s philanthropy, partnered with numerous community pharmacies for vaccine and flu clinics within the Athens area, and hosted a diverse group of speakers to educate students, including alumni community pharmacy owners, national compounding specialists, pharmacy insurance experts, Georgia Board of Pharmacy members, NCPA board members, and representatives from the state association.
Madison Marquess, a P4 from Acworth, GA, was the organization’s president in 2024-2025 and currently serves as the national president of NCPA’s Student Leadership Council. She shared her sentiments about capturing the top honor. “After placing in the top three many times, winning Chapter of the Year is an absolute dream come true! This is a testament to the dedication of our incredible executive team and the unwavering support of our advisor, Dr. Ashley Chinchilla. Receiving this award isn’t just a win for our chapter; it’s a victory for the entire University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. I hope our story inspires students to pour their hearts into what they are passionate about and never give up on their dreams, which is something we prioritize in NCPA.”
Marquess’s sentiments were echoed by UGA’s NCPA current president, Hannah Matthewson, a P2 from Cleveland, GA. “This is an incredible honor that could not have been accomplished without the support of our faculty and most importantly, the students who strive for changes in independent pharmacy. We are honored to be supported by pharmacy owners and mentors whose dedication to our organization exemplifies their belief in the future of independent pharmacy. This academic year, I plan to continue to make our chapter one of the best in the country in order to advocate for and protect the future of independent pharmacy.”
Added Dr. Ashley Chinchilla, the UGA NCPA chapter advisor and Associate IPPE Director of Ambulatory Care in the College’s Division of Experience Programs, “I am immensely proud of the students who work diligently in this organization to support independent pharmacy. They are truly passionate about the profession, and it has been a pleasure serving as their chapter advisor. “The UGA NCPA chapter exemplifies the caliber of students and chapter organizations at the College of Pharmacy. With 22 groups, each open to any interested student, the College meets the growing demand for a variety of professional and academic programming.
Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for the community pharmacist, representing more than 18,900 pharmacies that employ over 205,000 individuals nationwide.
