Texas Pharmacy Wins NCPA Student Business Plan Competition

A team of student pharmacists from The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy took the top prize at the 21st annual Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition held during the National Community Pharmacists Association’s (NCPA) Annual Convention this year from October 26-29 in Columbus, Ohio.

The winning team consisted of team captain Quinn Mosgrove and team members William Elizondo, Jennifer Lines and Bruno Onwukwe. Students Carlos Rios and Bi Tran worked with the winning team to help create the plan.

“Entrepreneurship is a high priority at Texas Pharmacy, and our teams have placed consistently high in this competition for several years,” said Dr. Samuel M. Poloyac, dean of the UT Austin College of Pharmacy. “I am delighted that Quinn, William, Jennifer and Bruno’s hard work and dedication resulted in this well-earned award.”

UT Austin’s NCPA student chapter received $3,000 and an additional $3,000 was contributed to the school in the dean’s name to promote independent community pharmacy at the college. Team members, team advisors and Dean Poloyac will also receive complimentary registration, travel and lodging to NCPA’s 2025 Multiple Locations Conference this February in Florida.

“Our students are the future of our profession. I’m inspired by their ambition, dedication and aspirations,” says Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice Terry Weaver, B.S., R.Ph., who served as the team’s faculty advisor. “Community pharmacy practice is evolving and expanding. With students like these leading the way, I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

The Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition seeks to motivate student pharmacists to create a business model for buying an existing independent community pharmacy or developing a new one. The competition is supported by Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company and the NCPA Foundation.