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Dr. Sami Shafiq-Barker Memorial Scholarship

Funded by
user profile avatar
Carl Barker
$2,000
2 winners, $1,000 each
Awarded
Application Deadline
Sep 22, 2025
Winners Announced
Oct 22, 2025
Education Level
Graduate
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
Graduate student
Field of Study:
Pharmacy

Dr. Sami Shafiq-Barker was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister whose life was tragically cut short due to a car accident. 

Sami was a passionate and dedicated clinical pharmacist whose skills were taken from the world too soon. The field of pharmacy is vital to the health of millions and is a key area of the healthcare industry. Unfortunately, the high costs of the advanced schooling necessary to pursue pharmacy make it inaccessible for many students with modest financial backgrounds.

This scholarship aims to honor the memory of Dr. Sami Shafiq-Barker by supporting students who are following in her footsteps. 

Any graduate student who is studying pharmacy may apply for this scholarship opportunity.

To apply, write an essay of 250 words or less telling us how you plan to give back to future pharmacy students and carry on Dr. Sami’s legacy.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Passion, Financial Need
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Published October 22, 2024
Essay Topic

How do you plan on giving back to future pharmacy students and continuing Dr. Sami Shafiq-Barker's legacy?

50–250 words

Winners and Finalists

Winning Applications

Maria Montoya-Ruiz
Wingate UniversityDenver, NC
The field of pharmacy plays a critical role in healthcare, yet it often lacks the recognition it deserves. Clinical pharmacists, like Dr. Sami Shafiq-Barker, are essential in optimizing medication therapy, guiding pharmacy teams, and ensuring patient safety. Her dedication to the field undoubtedly changed lives, and I strive to do the same. As a current pharmacy technician, I have witnessed firsthand the invaluable contributions of clinical pharmacists. I have been accepted into pharmacy school and will begin in August 2025, determined to overcome my financial barriers and pursue my Ph.D. However, I know that many aspiring pharmacists face similar challenges. To honor Dr. Sami’s legacy, I plan to mentor and support future pharmacy students by sharing my experiences, offering guidance on coursework, and advocating for increased access to financial resources. I also hope to establish a scholarship fund, after I graduate, to help students from modest financial backgrounds, just like I was helped when I needed it the most. By following in Dr. Sami’s footsteps, I will not only serve my community as a clinical pharmacist but also uplift and empower the next generation of pharmacy professionals.
Yanixa Quinones Aviles
Western New England UniversityWest Haven, CT
Lakeisha Laguerre
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityTallahassee, FL
As a person currently going through the PharmD program at FAMU, I can see firsthand the financial hardship for some of the students, including me. Most of us who have already completed a bachelor's degree are now placed in a predicament of ONLY being able to take out private loans with high interest rates to pay for school. This is because the program is coded in a way that doesn't allow P1 and P2 learners to get federal funding from the government. This then creates a lot of distress for the student in figuring out how they're going to pay for the program, especially for those who can't qualify for the private loan. My short-term goal as a pharmacist is to create a scholarship program specifically for FAMU students who fall into this gap of not being able to receive federal funding for their education for their first two years of pharmacy school. Dr. Sami Shafiq-Baker has allowed me the opportunity to apply for scholarships such as this one, which make a huge difference for us P1s who are struggling to pay for other school-related expenses. I would like to extend help to my fellow future pharmacists who will come after me in hopes that we can encourage students to not give up on their dreams because of financial constraints.
Leen Sultan
Seminole State CollegeOrlando, FL
I’m an immigrant who came to US because of the war in my country. Because of my immigration status, I’m not eligible to get FAFSA, therefore I know how challenging it’s to try covering high education expenses. After, 8 years of studying and working hard, I was finally accepted into the pharmacy program, but I’m still struggling to cover the tuition expenses. Therefore, as a future pharmacist, I’m planning to provide help to future pharmacy through donations to scholarships programs, help them with recommendations and learning.

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FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Sep 22, 2025. Winners will be announced on Oct 22, 2025.