The USC student chapter of the National Community Pharmacists Association was presented with the Dargavel Chapter of the Year award at the association’s 110th annual convention Oct. 13 in Tampa, Fla.

Accepting the award was Kalsang Dorji, co-president of the USC chapter, and Christine Nguyen, a member of the group. Dorji is also the association’s national student president-elect.

The competition recognizes the work accomplished by the chapter during the 2007-08 year when Pharm.D. students Yousuf Rahyab and Harut Kagoyan were co-presidents.

The chapter won the award based on work that illustrates their commitment to community pharmacy, including the recruitment of new members to the group and advocacy for legislative action supporting the profession.

The chapter participates in outreach events and activities across Southern California, such as screening and education events at clinics, independent pharmacy locations and health fairs.

The group also encourages students to consider a career in community pharmacy through their speaker series “Recipe to Developing and Owning Your Own Pharmacy.” This series exposes students to a wide range of topics such as diabetes care and homeopathy.

The association’s Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition also was held at the convention. This event requires students to create a blueprint for buying an existing independent community pharmacy or developing a new pharmacy. The USC group’s business plan was recognized among the top 10 in the nation.

Joining members of the chapter at the convention were School of Pharmacy Dean R. Pete Vanderveen and faculty adviser Jeffrey Goad, associate professor of clinical pharmacy.