Stellar Yi
Stellar just graduated with degrees in General Science and the International Degree, and will begin PharmD studies at OSU in September 2010. An independent, determined student, Stellar has truly made the most of her undergraduate experience at OSU. In addition to pursuing both degrees and Pharmacy school, Stellar has maintained multiple jobs at home and on campus, as everything from lab assistant to night shift gas station attendant. No matter how hard she had to work, Stellar was also determined to make an experience abroad happen. Last summer, she participated on the OSU summer Spanish-intensive study abroad program. In addition to taking advanced Spanish language and culture coursework, Stellar had the opportunity to volunteer within the community. Part of that experience was in local pharmacies, where she assisted pharmacists, technicians, and patients. She extended her time after completing the study abroad program to continue interning with Fybeca, a chain pharmacy in urban and rural Ecuador and conduct research for her International Degree thesis, entitled “A Comparison Study of Pharmacy Practice between the United States and Ecuador”.
In addition to her studies, work, and experiences in Ecuador, Stellar has long been involved with the Harambee Centre, a non-profit organization dedicated to education and understanding between the peoples of the Pacific Northwest and Africa. Stellar’s efforts over the years have focused on education, clothing, shelter and food for Ugandan orphans with HIV/AIDS and fundraising for a Kenyan HIV/AIDS clinic. In fact, a few hours after touching down in Portland from Ecuador, Stellar departed again, this time for the Kenyan village where the clinic she has worked so long to fundraise is being built. There, she also maintained vitamin supplement of all patients and helped the nurses when needed. Before beginning Pharmacy school, however, Stellar isn't just going to sit still! She's spending a few weeks volunteering in Honduras this summer with Medical Brigades, translating Spanish for up to 1500 patients per day, and Water Brigades, assisting with water sanitation and a filtration system.
