Students from the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy scored a big win, earning the Media/Communication Award for the 2025 Script Your Future Team Challenge.
Script Your Future, founded in 2011, is a national consumer education campaign that helps to raise awareness about the importance of medication adherence as a vital first step toward better health outcomes.
The Wilkes team scored big with their strong media campaign that included a segment on PA LIVE!, coverage in the Times Leader and creative social media outreach. The team’s use of engaging materials like a medication adherence BINGO board also helped boost interaction and visibility.
This year’s team wants another win. They started planning at the end of the fall semester, with a theme of “Stick to the Script” and a goal to reach out to underserved communities in 2026. Their strong showing includes visits to active adult centers in Hazleton, Kingston and Drums, with another stop in Nanticoke.
They also have outreach planned at Northeast Sight Services and the Greater Wyoming Valley YMCA.
The Stick to the Script team includes students Steph Nowak, Jill Graydus, Matt Trbuza, Paul Blankemeyer, Nori Zaccheo and Adrianna Aziz, as well as faculty advisors Kelly Sklanka, assistant professor of pharmacy practice, and Danielle Kieck, associate professor of pharmacy practice.
During stops in northeastern Pennsylvania, the student pharmacists will help educate the public on how to take medication correctly and why it’s important to follow prescriptions accurately. They can offer suggestions on ways to make adherence easier including using a pill box, setting a timer and putting medications in a spot where they’re hard to miss. They’ll also do blood pressure screenings, games and giveaways to make the sessions both helpful and fun.
“Script Your Future is a great opportunity for students to connect with community members of all ages, from elementary school students to seniors,” says Graydus. “I have enjoyed collaborating with fellow student pharmacists and faculty to develop creative, engaging ways to serve the greater Wilkes-Barre community and promote the importance of medication safety and adherence.”
For more information, visit @wilkespharm on Facebook and Instagram.