University of Washington Wins 2026 Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 4, 2026) - A team of student pharmacists from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy was named the winner of the 23rd annual Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition. A team from the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy was the runner-up, and a team representing the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy finished as the second runner-up. The winners were announced as part of the National Community Pharmacists Association's Annual Convention, being held Oct. 3-6 in Kansas City.

"Independent pharmacy offers a variety of paths that match different strengths, personalities and communities, but no matter which way you go, it demands creativity, resilience, and a strong financial strategy," said NCPA President Kristen Riddle. "The finalists' meticulous, inspiring blueprints showed us exactly that! I commend them all for their hard work and entrepreneurial spirit, and extend my congratulations to this year's winning team, the University of Washington, for being a step ahead of the rest."

The business plan competition is the first national competition of its kind in the pharmacy profession. The contest is named in honor of two great champions of independent community pharmacy, the late Neil Pruitt, Sr. and the late H. Joseph Schutte. Its goal is to motivate student pharmacists to create a business model for buying an existing independent community pharmacy or developing a new one. Through this competition, NCPA is helping to prepare tomorrow's pharmacy entrepreneurs. The competition is supported by Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company, and the NCPA Foundation.

The three finalist teams presented their business plans in a live competition on Oct. 3 at the NCPA Annual Convention in Kansas City. The judges for this year's live competition were Schwanda Flowers, Leanne Haley-Brown, Kristen Jones, Brittany Sanders, and Nick Turos.

"The NCPA Foundation is committed to building the next generation of independent pharmacy owners, and the Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition remains central to that work," said Sharon Sherrer, PharmD, president of the NCPA Foundation. "This competition asks students to think like owners, and many of them go on to become owners. Their success is a direct investment in the health of the communities they serve."

The winning team from the University of Washington is comprised of team captain Caitlin Joy Lazaro and team members Jackson Gilmour, Julia Par, and Brian Wong. The team adviser is Lisa Garza, and the dean is Jayanth Panyam. In recognition of their achievement, the $6,000 first-place prize was shared among the presenting team members. The team members, team advisers, and dean will also receive complimentary registration, travel, and lodging to NCPA's 2027 Multiple Locations Conference this February in Florida.

The runner-up, the University of Texas at Austin, is comprised of team captain Cristhy Herrera Ureña and team members Kelsey Barabas, Tori Chou, and Kim Cuellar. The team adviser is Terry Weaver, and the dean is Samuel Poloyac. The $4,000 second-place prize was shared among the presenting team members.

The second runner-up, the University of Mississippi, is comprised of team captain Anna Claire Roberson and team members Hannah Clayton, Mecklyn Vaught, and Mary Margaret White. The team adviser is Lindsey Miller Rayborn, and the dean is Donna Strum. The $2,000 prize was shared among the presenting team members.

The teams rounding out the top 10, listed alphabetically, are Auburn University; Ohio Northern University; Rutgers University; the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; the University of Georgia; the University of Missouri-Kansas City; and the University of South Carolina.

The teams' business plans were graded by independent pharmacy owners, business coaches and consultants, financiers, or community pharmacy practitioners, who must follow a detailed rubric when grading plans. Schools submitting to the competition for the first time receive a plaque for their participation. Each year that a school participates, it will receive a plate commemorating the year of participation to be added to the competition plaque. Teams placing in the top 10 receive a special plate acknowledging this distinction.

For more information about the Student Business Plan Competition, please visit NCPA's website.

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Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for the community pharmacist, representing over 18,900 pharmacies that employ nearly 230,000 individuals nationwide. Community pharmacies are rooted in the communities where they are located and are among America's most accessible health care providers. To learn more, visit www.ncpa.org.