LKS spotlights student and alumni members that are making a difference in their chapters, in their communities, and in the field of pharmacy.
Tell us about yourself: (school, chapter, work, hobbies, LKS activities, meetings attended, career plans)
My name is Taylor Fruits and I am the current President of the Phi collegiate chapter at Butler University! I am a current P2 and will graduate in May of 2022 with a Doctorate of Pharmacy with a minor in chemistry. This past summer I attended my very first Lambda Kappa Sigma convention and it exceeded my expectations in every way! I am so excited to be able to attend convention in my hometown next summer! For the past 4 years I have worked at CVS and I thoroughly enjoy the ability to directly work with patients. In my free time, I love to watch movies, work on jigsaw puzzles, or read! I have been incredibly blessed to serve as Fundraising Chair, Class Representative, President Elect and President for my chapter as well as serve on the national Communications Committee! After graduation, I hope to find a career where I can continue to serve my community and work closely with patients.
Which of our core values (sisterhood, leadership, service, scholarship and integrity) do you feel you most strongly represent and how?
Of our core values, I feel like I most strongly represent integrity and service. I do my best to be transparent in my communication with my chapter and encourage anonymous and constructive feedback from our members regularly! In all of my roles in LKS and my everyday life, I believe my main purpose is to serve others. I try to use my skills and roles in LKS to give back to our members and our community.
What pharmacy or LKS related events are you looking forward to in this upcoming year?
Though there are a lot of upcoming events I am excited for, I am looking forward to next year’s convention the most! My network of support grew from attending the 2019 convention, and I am so excited to see these lambs again. Since convention is going to be held in my hometown, our members will have an easier time attending and I am so thrilled to share this experience with the Phi sisters! Though I may be biased, I think Indianapolis is a great city and I am also looking forward to sharing my hometown with my national sisters.
What is your favorite chapter/school tradition?
My favorite chapter tradition is our Hygeia Day event. We host a dinner for collegiate members and local alumni to listen to a guest speaker and spend quality time with one another. It is a great opportunity to take a much needed break from the hectic semester to refocus on the bigger picture of why I chose this profession and why we are putting all of these hours into studying! In addition, we also hold our annual elections after the dinner. I always get excited to see all of the members being elected into their position, especially as I progress in the program and get to see more leaders flourish in their roles.
Who do you see as your role model in LKS and why?
My role model in LKS is Lauren Chars, a Phi collegiate member and the Phi President before me! She has taught me so much about leadership, scholarship, and integrity. Lauren is extremely driven and dedicated to this profession and to serving others. Her care for others is apparent in her actions and the way she serves this fraternity. She is busy working hard on her rotations, but still attends our meetings when she can and is always willing to lend an ear. Her positive attitude, honesty, and discipline are always such an encouragement! I am extremely blessed to have been able to learn so much from her!
What makes you excited to be a ‘lamb for life?’
I am excited to be a ‘lamb for life’ and be able to give back to this fraternity as an alumni! This fraternity has given me so many friendships, learning experiences, connections, and avenues of encouragement. Between convention and events with LKS alumni in the Indy area, I have had so many opportunities to learn more about the pharmacy profession and how I fit into the pharmacy world. As much as I have learned from these amazing women about the pharmacy world, they have also taught me as much about managing my personal and home life. Though I have been a member for a short four years, I have gained so much from being a lamb!
