Next step: PGY-1 Resident at the VA Central Ohio Healthcare System.
Sara Bockelman’s three favorite things to do are travel, help people, and make people laugh. At Ohio Northern, she did all three in spades.
Sara built homes for people in need in South Carolina with the ONU chapter of Habitat for Humanity. She gave countless campus tours to prospective students and assisted with Welcome Weekend as an Orientation Leader. She was also involved in six additional student organizations, including the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and Pharmacy Council.
“ONU gave me the opportunity to grow and develop my leadership skills within the wide variety of student organizations on campus,” she says.
One of Sara’s most treasured experiences was being crowned to the Homecoming court during ONU’s sesquicentennial year. Her Theta sisters were on the sidelines, cheering her on and taking pictures. “Being part of the court while celebrating ONU's 150th year is something I will always hold close to my heart,” she says.
Growing up, Sara gravitated toward the idea of working in healthcare. Her mom, a nurse, spoke highly of pharmacy as a flexible and impactful career. In high school, Sara attended a pharmacy camp at ONU that solidified her choice.
“This unique experience really sold me on pursuing a career in pharmacy and also put ONU at the top of my list of schools I was considering attending,” she says.
Sara recognized the value in ONU’s 0-6 direct entry pharmacy program and its supportive and extensive alumni network. This network benefited her as a pharmacy intern at the Cleveland VA Medical Center. “I was surrounded by multiple ONU alum and I loved talking with them about their (ONU) experience and what has changed,” she says.
In addition to a pharmacy major, Sara also received a minor in leadership studies.
“I experienced such a supportive and collaborative community at ONU and every day I was thankful I decided to attend.”
