Welcome to the Pharmily: 2025 EAP Students
As classes approach, let’s take a moment to meet some of the new students joining us from across the state through the Early Assurance Program (EAP)
Story by Sarah Clark | Published July 29, 2025
The UNC Eshleman School of Pharmacy is getting ready to welcome students back to campus as classes begin the first week of August. Among these students are several joining us through the Early Assurance Program, a program that has partnered with 10 colleges and universities, including UNC-Chapel Hill, across the state of North Carolina to offer early assurance to some amazing undergraduate students. Let’s meet a few of them!
Haleigh Elkins, who is joining us from UNC Wilmington, comes from Fairview, NC, which is just outside of Charlotte. Haleigh has always been drawn to a career in health care, inspired in part by personal experiences with chronic migraines. This journey sparked a desire to help others facing similar challenges. While eager to explore the wide range of pharmacy specializations, Haleigh is currently interested in neurology and oncology. Ready to join the UNC community, Haleigh looks forward to meeting new classmates and is ready to finally have a football team to cheer on. Outside the classroom, Haleigh enjoys going to the beach and the gym, spending time with friends, and painting glasses.
Madeline Kesner, originally from Matthews, NC, will be joining us at the Asheville campus this year. Having recently graduated from UNC Asheville with degrees in math and chemistry, Madeline is excited to continue her education on the Asheville campus, meet the other students, and get started with the pharmacy curriculum. Madeline’s interest in pharmacy began in high school during a health science career and technical education track. She has a passion for helping others and, after shadowing a pharmacist, it clicked for Madeline that pharmacy was the right fit. Outside of school, we may find Madeline among the waterfalls on hikes, or playing video games like Minecraft or Animal Crossing.
Joining us from Eastern NC is Zaniah Peacock, a scholarship recipient, who graduated from Eastern Carolina University and is originally from New Bern, NC. Zaniah’s interest in pharmacy was sparked by a toxicology undergraduate course and further fueled by a desire to make an impact in the field of health care. Her first experience in the pharmacy profession was a part-time job at Realo Discount Drugs during the summer of 2022. This is where she learned that working in a health care environment was for her. Now, Zaniah looks forward to the immersions offered at the School, and is particularly interested in learning more about pediatric pharmacy. Beyond pharmacy, Zaniah likes to spend time with friends and family, binge-watch shows, and read.
Jayshon Wallace will be joining us from right here at UNC-Chapel Hill. Originally from Ayden, NC, Jayshon’s interest in health science and drug discovery, coupled with a desire to help others, lead to his interest in pursuing a career in pharmacy. Jayshon is particularly interested in nuclear pharmacy, but is also intrigued by industry pharmacy careers and is eager to learn more about both during his time at the School. Ready to explore more beyond his hometown, Jayshon is looking forward to meeting classmates and further exploring the world of pharmacy. Outside of school, Jayshon is an action game and rock music enthusiast who also enjoys working out and occasionally playing chess.
Originally from Boone, NC, Michael Marks is joining us from Appalachian State University. Michael is pursuing a career in pharmacy because it combines his love of science and related topics, as well as his desire to help others. His first experience in the pharmacy profession was at a job recommended to him by his sister, Katie Marks, PharmD ’23, at Sona Pharmacy, a community pharmacy in Asheville. With a particular interest in ambulatory care, Michael is eager to learn more about this field, as well as the different clinical pathways that pharmacy has to offer – especially those pertaining to the VA system. In his free time, Michael enjoys cooking, outdoor activities, and spending time with friends and family.
Madison Grigsby, originally from Tabor, NC, will also be joining us from UNC-Chapel Hill. Since she was 16 years old, Madison has worked part-time at her uncle’s retail pharmacy in Whiteville, NC on weekends and summer break. While she always loved the sciences, her experience in her uncle’s pharmacy, paired with additional shadowing and research, confirmed her trajectory into a career in pharmacy. Madison is eager to start exploring all the different career paths and topics in pharmacy during her time at the School, despite having the most experience in retail pharmacy. Having spent her undergraduate career at UNC, she is excited to continue her time on campus and meet her new professors and classmates. Outside of academics, Madison loves to go to the beach, read, exercise, and go thrifting.
We are thrilled to have some amazing students join the Pharmily this fall thanks to the Early Assurance Program. Welcome (or welcome back) to Carolina!