September 15: Nominate a Colleague for OPA Awards

OPA Awards Solicitation

Monday, September 15, 2026 is the deadline to nominate candidates for OPA Awards. (New : Technician of the Year Award is being introduced for 2027). 

OPA will recognize the accomplishments of members throughout the state at the OPA Annual Conference, April 8-10, 2027, which will be held at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. Any OPA member may nominate any eligible member for the awards. Information about the awards and their criteria may be found on the Awards nomination form which is linked below. Nominate a colleague TODAY!

>OPA Awards Nomination Form<

OPA Awards

• The Bowl of Hygeia Award, sponsored by NASPA and the APhA Foundation, honors pharmacists who have contributed to the progress of their communities. The award was introduced in 1963. 
• The goal of the Pharmacists Mutual Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year Award is to encourage pharmacists beginning practice to participate in association and community activities. The award was introduced in 1988.
• The Generation Rx Award is presented to recognize a pharmacist who has demonstrated commitment to education and prevention efforts for prescription drug abuse and misuse in the community.
• The Good Government Award recognizes a member of the Ohio Pharmacists Association who has made major contributions to the public through government and/or legislative service/education at the local, state or national level. This activity must have raised pharmacists’ awareness of legislative issues impacting the profession and impacting the passage of favorable legislation for pharmacy.
• The Pharmacist Public Relations Award recognizes a member pharmacist of the Ohio Pharmacists Association who has made major contributions to the public through continuous service to the community in public relations activities for the profession of pharmacy. This may be accomplished through television, radio, newsprint or community presentations on careers in pharmacy, poison prevention, medication safety, etc. 
• The Technician of the Year Award recognizes a pharmacy technician who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to their workforce, the practice of pharmacy, and patient care. This award will be introduced in 2027.
• The UNDER 40 Recognition Award grants young pharmacists the unique opportunity to have their professional achievements highlighted and allows them to join the ranks of top-notch professionals from a variety of careers who have earned an UNDER 40 award. The award was introduced in 2018. 
• The Media Awards are presented to persons in the media promoting medication safety or pharmacy issues to the public. 

2026 Award Recipients:

Beal Award – David Burke

Bowl of Hygeia – Casey McFadden

Distinguished Young Pharmacist – Korie Payne

Keys Award – Logan Yoho

Generation Rx – Samuel Stitzel

Good Government Award – Patrick Kovacs

Public Relations Award – Olivia Kinney

2026 UNDER 40 Recipients

Sarah Aldrich Renner

Lydia Bailey

Kristine Cline

Ronni D'Agostino

Whitney Dubois

Megan Hull

Matthew Kostoff

Lindsey Lee

Benjamin Link

Jessica Schmurr

For the complete list of past Award Recipients, click here.