Grant Boosts High School's Pharmacy Tech Academy
Fort Meade school's program is one of a kind for Polk District
BySara Drumm
THE LEDGER
Published: Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 1:40 a.m.
ERNST PETERS | THE LEDGER
PRINCIPAL AMY HARDEEannounces a $5,000 donation from Motorola Solutions Foundation to the pharmacy technician academy at Fort Meade Senior/Junior High School on Tuesday.
FORT MEADE | In its second year, Fort Meade Middle-Senior High's pharmacy technician academy is plugging away, prepping students to wear white lab coats when they graduate.
The program is on track but still needs more supplies and space, said pharmacy technician teacher Ken Harris.
The school received a $5,000 grant Tuesday that will help the academy on its way to being a full-fledged program. The grant was part of $50,000 in funding for science, technology, engineering and math programs given to nine school districts in Florida by the Motorola Solutions Foundation.
"STEM is not going to happen overnight," said Fort Meade Principal Amy Hardee. "It's a journey, and it's a journey that we've invested five years into."
The school started its first three career academies last year and is working to bolster them.
Harris said the grant money will help the school get supplies for a retail pharmaceutical laboratory. Students spend a lot of time working on lab assignments to gain the skills they would need in a pharmacy. As part of the program, they will do clinical rotations in real retail and hospital labs before graduating.
Harris said the academy is being built in phases as students progress.
"I'm really excited to see it growing," he said.
Thirty new students signed up this year. Students throughout the county may apply to participate in the academy, the only one of its type in the district.
Several students said Tuesday they want to work as pharmacy technicians to make money while going to college.
"There's a lot of demand right now for technicians," Harris said.
Students said they have enjoyed learning medical terminology, drug properties, how to write and read prescriptions, how to mix compounds, and how to make capsules.
Zachary Taylor, 17, said he is thinking about studying environmental engineering but is excited about the idea of having a job that helps people medically in the meantime. He was inspired to join the academy after a field trip last year to WellDyneRx, a pharmacy service firm that partnered with the school.
"On the field trip to WellDyne, my mind was blown by all the science and the machines they had," he said. "I thought it was amazing."
[ SaraDrumm can be reached at or 863-802-7547. ]