Meet Sarina Thapar, a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from Monroe, New Jersey, and this year’s student commencement speaker for the College of Pharmacy. Sarina was inspired to pursue pharmacy by her mother, a pharmacist whose compassion and independence left a lasting mark. She followed in her footsteps, driven by a desire to help others and lead with purpose. That commitment deepened in her fifth year, when her younger sister was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia. Sarina responded by launching a “Be The Match” initiative (uri_nmdp) to raise awareness and boost bone marrow donor registrations. More than 100 students from URI and other New England pharmacy schools joined the registry—an achievement she holds close to her heart. Embracing more opportunities to lead and grow, Sarina served as a tour guide, led the American Pharmacists Association as Chapter President, and stayed active in professional organizations. Along the way, she formed lasting friendships that helped her through challen...