Nicholas Dean, a freshman in the UM Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, has been awarded six academic scholarships and admitted into the School of Pharmacy’s early entry program. Submitted photo
OXFORD, Miss. – With an array of scholarship offers under his belt, freshman Nicholas Dean is eager to get involved on campus as he begins his journey at the University of Mississippi.
The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College student from Brandon was awarded the Sis and Buddy Manning Ole Miss First, 1848, Academic Merit, Residential, Plough Recruitment Pharmacy and Mississippi STAR Student scholarships. Dean also has been accepted into the university early-entry pharmacy program.
Acceptance into the program is based on an applicant’s academic ability and aptitude for the study of pharmacy. Two primary factors considered in the selection process are performance on the ACT or SAT and high school grade-point average.
“I decided to attend Ole Miss because of its good early-entry pharmacy program and because it would give me significantly more choice than other universities for what career paths I may take in the medical field,” said Dean, who graduated from Jackson Preparatory School with a 4.0 GPA and an ACT score of 36.
“The generous scholarships were certainly a factor. I am honored to have received each of my scholarships and I am thankful to those that chose me.”
Dean is an excellent choice for the early-entry program, said Lindsey Cooper, coordinator of admissions for the School of Pharmacy.
“Nicholas excels academically and demonstrated exceptional knowledge of the pharmacy profession during his early entry interview,” Cooper said. “The School of Pharmacy is excited to have Nicholas join the Ole Miss pharmacy family. We are confident he will excel in not only academics, but in our student organizations and become a vital member of the early entry Class of 2024.”
He is the son of Dr. David and Robin Dean, a physician and a pharmacist, respectively. The couple met in 1999 when he was completing his residency and she was finishing pharmacy school, both at the UM Medical Center.
Dean said he decided to major in pharmacy because it offers a good, stable job where he can help people at the same time.
“I could also use it as a pre-med emphasis if I choose to,” he said. “My parents have acted as role models for me. Both of them worked hard to obtain their degrees and continue to work hard every day. That has helped instill a commitment to succeed within me.”
Dean is a welcome addition to the Honors College, Dean Douglass Sullivan-González said.
“His quest to pursue the health sciences as a pre-pharmacy major complements his significant trajectory as citizen and scholar in our state,” Sullivan-González said. “Nicholas brings a lot of punch to our university, and we look forward to four years with him.”
As Dean begins his first semester, he has yet to decide on short-term goals beyond doing well in his classes and getting involved in community service.
“Once I get everything planned out, I am certainly going to go for every achievement and honor I can,” Dean said.