University Of Southern Nevada
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
Community Spotlight
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Jennifer Smith, a Doctor of Pharmacy student at USN's Henderson campus, has been awarded the Community Service Award by the U.S. Public Health Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Pharmacy Student Receives National Award
One of only ten college students from across the country to receive the prestigious honor, Smith was nominated by Dr. Paul Oesterman, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at USN, for her steadfast commitment to educating Clark County youth about the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse as a member of the USN’s Drug Abuse Awareness Team.
“Jennifer has proven to be an enthusiastic and dynamic presenter in Clark County classrooms,” said Dr. Oesterman. “She continues to capture the attention of teenagers at risk for drug abuse and convey messages that help them make the right decision when confronted with drug temptations.”
With one in five American teenagers abusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs, the Drug Abuse Awareness Team was founded in 2007 by a group of USN College of Pharmacy students. The team has partnered with the Clark County School District and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to present comprehensive and informative presentations to middle school students throughout the Las Vegas Valley. It is the team’s mission to influence and educate as many teens as possible about the misuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs so they can be armed with knowledge about the possibilities and consequences of destructive behaviors.
The Community Service Award was presented to Smith by Captain Stewart Jorgenson of the U.S. Public Health Service at an on-campus ceremony on May 15. The Drug Abuse Awareness Team as a whole was honored with the U.S. Public Health Service’s Public Health Practice Award for Pharmacy in 2007.
“The university is proud of Jennifer and the entire Drug Abuse Awareness Team for being recognized two years in a row,” said Dr. Oesterman. “That’s a tremendous accomplishment and one that each and every member of the team should be proud of.”
