Joe Gilroy "Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan" Scholarship

Funded by
user profile avatar
Smart Boy Studios
$2,550
2 winners, $1,275 each
Awarded
Application Deadline
Feb 28, 2025
Winners Announced
Mar 28, 2025
Education Level
3
Contributions
Eligibility Requirements
Background:
Anybody pursuing further education

Joe Gilroy was an incredible grandfather as well as a skilled entrepreneur and a source of inspiration in the lives of many.

Joe owned and ran a small, niche manufacturing company for specific machine parts. Every single day, he kept an index note and pen in his shirt pocket which held his to-do list for the day. He was highly motivated and lived by the motto of "Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan." 

This scholarship aims to support any student who has dreams and a detailed plan on how to pursue and achieve them. 

Anybody who is pursuing further education of some kind may apply for this scholarship if they have specific goals and experience in the field they’re pursuing. Eligible candidates includes those pursuing trade school, certifications or graduates who are trying to pay down student loan debt.

To apply, tell us about your goals and your plans for achieving them, including as many details as possible.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Impact
Published November 8, 2024
Essay Topic

Please describe your goals and the plans you have to reach these goals. Please include details, including the resources necessary, a budget, and thorough thought of all the angles. Resources and timing are important in any plan, as well as consideration of all paths for success.

400–600 words

Winning Applications

Hepua Sorensen
University of Hawaii at ManoaWaipio, HI
Rayna Rodenkirchen
The University of FindlayBlacklick, OH
My guidance counselor gave me a packet of summer programs for the summer of 2021. I had two requirements for a summer program. I wanted to stay in-person on a college campus, and I wanted the program to be about the medical field. Many of the programs were either virtual or canceled, which helped me narrow down which one I wanted to go to. I found a program at the University of Findlay about pharmacy, which I attended. The camp introduced me to the pharmacy field, which I hadn’t known much about beforehand. I learned about what pharmacists do and what education they receive. I enjoyed the session about hospital pharmacy, where I learned about what pharmacists do in a hospital setting. After the camp, I was seriously considering studying pharmacy in college and having a career in the pharmacy field, so I began doing research about the pharmacy field. I went to a talk by a pharmacy student to learn about their experiences. I went on video calls to learn about pharmacy programs. I learned about the 0+6 pharmacy program, which is offered by the University of Findlay. This program lasts six years and condenses the traditional four years of undergraduate studies and the four years of pharmacy school into six years, which is why I applied there. I liked that it was shorter than the traditional 8-year path, meaning that I could start my career sooner. I also do not have to reapply to pharmacy school during my academic career. I am currently in my second year of this program. According to my latest financial reports from my college, my estimated college costs for this year are $55,320 for the 2024-25 school year. I have $27,500 in grants and scholarships this year. Of those, I have an annual $21,000 scholarship that I should get for the next three years. My calculations assume tuition will remain constant for the next 5 years. I know it will not, but this is a rough estimate for the purpose of forming a budget. I need a total of $276,600 to earn my PharmD degree in the next five years. It is $249,100 when you subtract my financial aid for this year. I will also get $21,000 for my junior year and my senior year, meaning I still need to find $207,100. I have about $70,000 in my college fund, leaving $137,100 unaccounted for. My parents will also pay $10,000 each year for the next 5 years, for a total of $50,000. This means I will need to earn $87,100 through scholarships, financial aid, and working a part-time job to avoid taking out student loans. My goal is to graduate with my PharmD in 2029 and specialize in nuclear pharmacy. This will require extensive training, which could take a long time. It involves getting 4000 hours of practice in a nuclear pharmacy and taking classes relating to safety. If a typical work week is 40 hours, that would mean 100 weeks, or roughly equivalent to two years of experience. In order to do this, I will obviously need scholarships, but I will also need immaterial things, such as experience in the pharmacy field, experience with activities outside the pharmacy field to develop soft skills, networking skills, and the support and guidance of my family, friends and mentors. I believe that if I follow my plans, I can achieve my goals.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Feb 28, 2025. Winners will be announced on Mar 28, 2025.