Gamma Eta, the Abilene campus chapter of the School of Pharmacy’s  Phi Delta Chi (PDC) student organization, was recognized Aug. 1-4 at PDC’s annual Leadership Development Seminar in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The biennial seminar is a national event that provides PDC Brothers with opportunities to develop and strengthen the skills they will need to become leaders in pharmacy.

Second-year student Alex Ledbetter said the seminar was rewarding in more ways than she expected.

“It really brought me out of my shell and was a great learning experience,” Ledbetter added. “Not only did I learn a lot about being a better leader, I also learned a lot about myself.”

The seminar concluded with a celebration of the achievements of all the chapters across the country, and Gamma Eta returned to Abilene with several awards and recognitions, including the Dale W. Doerr Achievement Award Program - 100% Achievement Award.

The Dale W. Doerr Achievement Award is a non-competitive program that requires the chapter to submit reports covering a variety of subjects that promote chapter correspondence with the National Office, encourage communication between chapters, improve chapter communication with their alumni and provide a framework for chapters in upholding PDC ideals.

Gamma Eta also received recognition in several other national categories, including a second place Albert Benjamin Prescott Scholarship Award for improving the academic progress of Brothers through game show-style reviews for the infectious diseases, cardiology and anatomy-physiology courses, and conducting exercise classes, nutrition and lifestyle lessons and a clinical how-to series.

The chapter’s “Red Raider Digest” brought home fourth place nationally in the Annual Chapter Publication category. Gamma Eta also finished in fifth place for the Emory W. Thurston Grand President’s Award for promoting the pharmacy profession and PDC to the fullest extent during the preceding year, and in sixth place in the John D. Grabenstein Leadership Report category for exhibiting their leadership abilities.

In addition, the Beta Rho PDC chapter from the Amarillo campus placed third in fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PDC’s national charity. Beta Rho’s fundraising events, highlighted by the chapter’s annual Casino Night, helped PDC raise more than $10,000 for St. Jude.

Chephra McKee, Pharm.D., an assistant professor for the Department of Pharmacy Practice in Abilene and PDC’s faculty advisor, congratulated the students for their accomplishments.

“Both chapters are wonderful representatives of TTUHSC and the School of Pharmacy on a national level,” McKee said.