ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation announced a double-digit increase in dollars awarded last year for the Pharmacy Student Scholarship Program.

The NACDS Foundation said Monday that in the 2009 Pharmacy Student Scholarship Program, 93 scholarships totaling $196,000 were awarded to pharmacy students representing 59 colleges and schools of pharmacy in 29 states and the District of Columbia. That marked a 14% gain in scholarship dollars from 2008, when the foundation awarded 85 pharmacy student scholarships totaling $172,000.

"These scholarships are a fitting tribute to the industry’s past and its firm commitment to its future," NACDS Foundation president Edith Rosato said in a statement. "It is with sincere gratitude that, on behalf of these 93 students, I thank the generous benefactors of the NACDS Foundation for their support of pharmacy education and patient health."

The Pharmacy Student Scholarship supports the academic development of pharmacy students who are dedicated to improving the general public health and have expressed an interest in community pharmacy practice.

In 2009, the NACDS Foundation was awarded four named scholarships honoring distinguished individuals and organizations who share the commitment to pharmacy’s role in public health: the Robert J. Bolger Scholarship ($2,500), the Taro Research Foundation Scholarship ($2,500) and the two new scholarships, the Edmond Fougera Scholarship ($3,000) and the Leonard J. DeMino Scholarship ($5,000).

Altogether, 85 pharmacy student received scholarships of $2,000, four students received scholarships of $2,500, two students received scholarships of $3,000 and two students received scholarships of $5,000 — totaling $196,000, the foundation said.