When 19-year-old Alexis Dongeis walked into her first classroom at SPC, she was nervous enough to arrive two hours early. Her dream of working in healthcare had always been clear: she wanted to help people without dealing with blood, and the Pharmacy Technician field seemed like the perfect fit. That dream began years earlier when she cared for her grandparents and deepened after meeting Pepper Meyer, a university pharmacy director whose son was her high school classmate. Choosing SPC over a more expensive university was a practical decision, but it did not lessen her excitement for the journey ahead. Within minutes of meeting her classmates, Alexis realized she was not alone: she had found a community ready to learn and grow together.

Hands-on learning in SPC’s simulation labs quickly became Alexis’s favorite part of the program. She mastered creating patient profiles, filling prescriptions, and understanding the math behind dosage calculations – skills that minimize human error and save lives. Her curiosity expanded when she attended the MHSP Annual Conference and discovered the role of pharmacy robots in modern healthcare. For Alexis, the future looks bright: she hopes to work in a hospital setting where technology and patient care intersect after graduating in 2027.

Across the classroom sat Cecelia Washington, a 66-year-old grandmother whose life story could fill volumes. Growing up in Selma, Alabama, during the civil rights movement, Cecelia (Cece) learned resilience early. Her career path was anything but linear – she served in the military, earned a degree in criminal justice, worked in forensics, and later supported autistic children as a teaching assistant. For 15 years, she cared for the elderly as a home health aide, always finding joy in learning from both the young and old. Now, she is proving to her grandchildren that education never stops, even with her physical limitations of asthma and congestive heart failure.

Cece’s journey through the pharmacy tech program was not without challenges. Algebra became her biggest hurdle, and she failed twice before earning one last chance. With determination and tutoring sessions alongside her grandchildren, she passed. That victory fueled her enthusiasm for the program. Cece is flourishing at SPC, appreciating both the tutoring and veteran centers and benefiting from guidance from a mentor introduced by her friend, Dr. Ronda Marie Chakolis-Hassan, PharmD, President of the Minnesota State Board of Pharmacy.

Like Alexis, Cece loves the simulation labs and the teamwork that pharmacy tech training encourages. She is fascinated by the variety of career paths available, from hospital work to retail and beyond. Her goal is to graduate and secure a hospital position, but her deeper mission is to inspire her grandchildren, and anyone watching that age is never a barrier to learning.

Together, Alexis and Cece represent two ends of the age spectrum, yet their stories share a common thread: passion, perseverance, and the belief that pharmacy technology offers opportunities for everyone. Whether you are a first-semester student fresh out of high school or a seasoned professional seeking a new chapter, this field welcomes you with open arms. It is not just a job; the

Pharmacy Tech can be a lifelong career that grows with you, or even a new career field for those further along in their career journey.

Learn more about the Pharmacy Technician program in our video: