LCDR Brian Parker Community Service Scholarship

About Us

What is the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps?

The mission of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of our Nation. As America's uniformed service of public health professionals, the Commissioned Corps achieves its mission through:

  • Rapid and effective response to public health needs
  • Leadership and excellence in public health practices
  • Advancement of public health science

The core values of the Commissioned Corps are:

  • Leadership
  • Service
  • Integrity
  • Excellence

Visit our websites for more information, and

Who is LCDR Brian Parker?

LCDR Brian Parker was a pharmacy officer in the United States Public Health Service for more than 7 years. He served with both the Indian Health Service and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, providing health care to some of the most underserved populations. He was an active member of the North Carolina Commissioned Officers Association (NCCOA), serving as the Vice President of the organization. He was also an active member of the Black Commissioned Officer Association Group (BCOAG) and the Junior Officer Advisory Group (JOAG). The common denominator of these organizations is community service. LCDR Parker spent countless hours of his time doing community service with these organizations and other community-based organizations, including Big Brother/Big Sister, Healing with CAARE, Pancreatic Cancer Community Awareness, and various mission trips with his church. He also loved spending time with family, playing football with his nephews, playing video games, and singing with the USPHS Surgeon General’s Chorale Ensemble. He enjoyed spreading words of encouragement to his coworkers and friends. LCDR Parker graduated from Hampton University with a Doctorate of Pharmacy and East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science, where he earned numerous honors such as Undergraduate of the Year, Outstanding Scholar Award, and Highest GPA in a Fraternity.

Application Process and Requirements

  • Essay describing public health and community service experience
  • Must have participated in at least 5 different public health and/or community service events in the past year, at least one of each
  • Must currently be enrolled in accredited pharmacy school
  • Must have minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Letter of Recommendation from a current School of Pharmacy professor
  • Completed application must be attached
  • Evidence of community service events must be attached (photo or letter verifying your attendance)
  • Official Transcript must be attached

Essay

  • Students must submit a well-developed, typed essay describing their community service experience.
  • Applicants name must appear in top right corner of each page
  • Essay must be double-spaced and in Times New Roman
  • Maximum of 2 pages
  • In the essay, please address the following questions:
  • What was the impact of your service?
  • What did you learn about yourself and others as a result of your service?

Evaluation

  • All application requirements must be submitted by May 31, 2015
  • North Carolina Commissioned Officer Association will review all applications and choose a winner based on the rubric included in the application. Award of $1,000 will be disseminated in September

Instructions for Submission

  • Submit all required materials to North Carolina Commissioned Officers Association via email:
  • Please submit all requirements as a single Adobe file.

LCDR Brian Parker Community Service Scholarship Application

Sponsored by the North Carolina Commissioned Officer Association

Name: ______

(Last) (First) (MI)

Address: ______

(Street) (City) (State) (Zip Code)

Email: ______Phone: ______

(Home) (Cell)

Date of Birth: ______

Name of Pharmacy School Currently Enrolled in: ______

Year in Pharmacy School ______Expected Graduation Date______

INTEGRITY OF APPLICATION STATEMENT

My signature below constitutes my affirmation that:

  • All of the information in this application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
  • The essay is my own original work (with the exception of those portions which are properly documented).
  • The agency information and hours listed on the Community Service Documentation Form are accurate.
  • If selected to be a recipient of the Community Service Scholarship, I agree to participate in a photo opportunity with the US Public Health Service and allow them to contact the School of Pharmacy to verify my enrollment.

Applicant’s Signature: ______Date: ______

Scoring Rubric

Each applicant’s essay will be scored using the rubric below.

4 / 3 2 / 1
General Reflection / Applicant presents a thoughtful reflection on service, recounting detailed examples of service.
The essay meets the criteria set forth. / Applicant completes a reflection on service and recounted past service experiences.
The essay meets the criteria set forth. / Applicant completes a reflection on service. Little detail was provided on the experiences.
The essay meets most of the criteria set forth. / Applicant attempts to complete reflection on service, but no details about the experience/s are included.
The essay meets some of the criteria set forth.
Sense of Caring For and About Others / Applicant’s reflections show deep personal understanding of the importance of service and the ability to make a difference. / Applicant’s reflections show a growing understanding of the importance of service and the ability to make a difference. / Applicant’s reflections show a limited understanding of the importance of service. / Applicant’s reflections show that s/he is largely unaffected by the service and her/his ability to make a difference.
Development and Organization of Essay / Applicant’s essay has an engaging introduction that orients readers and provides a strong conclusion.
It also establishes a natural/logical sequence of reflection, using effective transitions to convey this. / Applicant’s essay has an effective introduction and provides a conclusion that sums up the reflection.
It has a logical flow, but needs more transitions. / Applicant’s essay has an introduction that needs more development and lacks a strong conclusion.
It includes unnecessary information and may seem choppy. / Applicant’s essay lacks an effective introduction and ends abruptly.
It also includes distracting information and has no clear sequence of events/thoughts.
Language Usage / Applicant’s essay maintains a clear point of view, uses relevant descriptive details, and shows a command of English Language conventions. / Applicant’s essay maintains a point of view and includes relevant descriptive details. There may be a few errors in conventions. / Applicant’s essay has some lapses in point of view, lacks effective descriptive details, and has some distracting errors in conventions. / Applicant’s essay lacks a clear point of view, mostly lacks or offers no effective details, and has major errors in conventions.