John Pasciak, a student at the USF College of Pharmacy, has been named a 2015-16 Tillman Scholar.  Pasciak, a third-year student in the college’s Doctor of Pharmacy program, was awarded the scholarship from the Pat Tillman Foundation, along with Mary Lynn Conroy, an MBA student at USF.

A two-time Bronze Star recipient, Pasciak served his military career in the U.S. Army infantry in Iraq and Afghanistan after enlisting in the wake of 9/11. As a USF Health student, Pasciak will receive a scholarship for the next two academic years, helping him to earn a Doctor in Pharmacy with specialization in pharmacogenomics, a field focusing on tailoring medications and dosages to an individual’s genetic makeup. Upon his anticipated graduation in 2017, he hopes to practice at a Veterans Affairs hospital where he can leverage his military experience while assisting the veterans he admires as a trusted part of their medical team.

John Pasciak

“We are very proud to welcome Mary and John as our newest Tillman Scholars on the USF campus,” said Lawrence Braue, director of the university’s Office of Veterans Services. “Their admirable military careers, dedicated academic pursuits, and pure passion to continue to serve their country in impactful civilian careers are just some of the reasons they were selected for this distinguished award.”

“The university also thanks the Pat Tillman Foundation for our continued partnership. It is a true honor to be affiliated with an organization that values America’s deserving veterans and their education.”

USF is one of 18 Tillman Scholar University Partners in the country and was selected based on its innovative, veteran-specific support services and culture. There have been 14 Tillman Scholars named at USF since the Pat Tillman Foundation began funding scholarships in 2004.

The scholarships honor Pat Tillman, an all-star NFL player who put his career with the Arizona Cardinals on hold to serve in the Army after the attacks of 9/11, He was killed in action in April 2004.