Ethan Knox

Scholarships ease financial burdens for Binghamton University pharmacy students

By Ethan Knox ’20 on SEPTEMBER 24, 2026 @BingUNews

The Schorr family is well known in the area for its local philanthropy, dedication to community development, and deep ties to Binghamton University. Their contributions have once again brought opportunity to two dedicated students at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SOPPS) for the fall 2026 semester. 

“It’s hard to put into words the generosity that it takes for someone to give money to a student that they don’t even know,” said Isabella Issa, a P3 PharmD student and the winner of this year’s Schorr Family Foundation PharmD Scholarship. “I could not say thank you enough, and I just don’t think that I am able to express how much this really does help me as a student and a person. I’m so thankful to have a better balance, thanks to this scholarship.”

Established by Jennifer Brink Schorr, MBA ’81, and Lawrence J. Schorr ’75, MA ’77, LLD ’09, the Schorr Family Foundation scholarships benefit students admitted to either the Doctor of Pharmacy or master’s degree programs. Dedicated to the redevelopment of the Johnson City area, the Schorr family established the Schorr Family Foundation to benefit the school and honor the legacy of Lawrence Schorr’s father, Max Schorr, who was a retail pharmacist in Brooklyn, New York, and his mother, Sarah Schorr. 

MS Pharmaceutical Sciences Scholarship Amy Liang ’26 (left) was presented with the MS Pharmaceutical Sciences Scholarship by Dean Kanneboyina Nagaraju (right). Image Credit: Ethan Knox ’20.

This year’s recipient of the Schorr Family Foundation MS Pharmaceutical Sciences Scholarship is Amy Liang ’26. Awarded to an admitted pharmaceutical sciences student, recipients must be New York state residents. They also retain the scholarship through completion of the program.

“If the Schorr family was in front of me, I would tell them I’m so grateful for their support of students and learning, and that I really appreciate their dedication to helping students find their education and focus on academics,” she said. “This scholarship is alleviating the financial burden. One aspect that I was worried about in the beginning of this path was how to balance my education and the cost; I was scared that I would just be working and I wouldn’t have time to focus on my studies. But this really eliminates that concern.”

Liang came to Binghamton from New York City, hoping to focus her studies on how lifestyle factors affect memory. Thanks to the Binghamton University Projects for New Undergraduate Researchers (BUPNUR) program, Liang earned some early research experience in summer 2024 with Ian McDonough, associate professor of psychology, and later graduated with a degree in integrative neuroscience. Now, she is looking forward to expanding her skill set in the Pharmacy Building.

“There was always a part of me that wanted to do a different type of research that I didn’t get the chance to explore. I was applying around in my senior year and saw that the master’s program has opportunities in drug development and more, so that was exciting to me,” she said. “I’m so excited about getting to do hands-on research in both the wet and dry labs!”

As she continues down this research track, Liang plans to keep her future options open. One possibility is working for a pharmaceutical company and fulfilling her research dreams, though she’d also consider returning to Binghamton for her PharmD or an academic path.

PharmD Scholarship Isabella Issa (right) was presented with the PharmD Scholarship by Dean Kanneboyina Nagaraju (left). Image Credit: Ethan Knox ’20.

This year’s recipient of the Schorr Family Foundation PharmD Scholarship is Isabella Issa. Awarded to an admitted PharmD program student, the recipient must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to qualify and must maintain it while enrolled in the program. The awardee must also have been enrolled as a Binghamton University undergraduate student. 

Issa’s mother was a nurse, so she grew up in New Jersey surrounded by healthcare. Set on following that passion without going into nursing, she learned about pharmacy early on in her high school career and felt a fit.

“The six years that Binghamton offered aligned with my personal interests and my career journey in general,” she said. “I started looking into Binghamton itself, and when I toured it, I immediately knew that I wanted to go. Binghamton’s admissions staff and professors were great and really aligned with my college vision. That, the distance from home, and the general vibe and community were a great fit for me.”

Issa enrolled and committed to a 2+4 through the Pharmacy Early Assurance Program (PEAP). But she was worried about the expense and felt relieved and thankful because of the availability of scholarships. Binghamton University annually offers $300,000 in scholarships to PharmD students, and as an applicant, you are automatically considered for many of the scholarships offered to incoming students.

“Being an out-of-state student, I already have higher tuition than most people who tend to come to Binghamton. Obviously, as grad students, we all have our own expenses. I have three jobs currently, and so being able to support myself makes things so much easier,” said Issa, who works in Residential Life on the Vestal campus, as a student ambassador for the pharmacy school, and recently accepted a position at Guthrie as a pharmacy technician. “The scholarship does mean so much to me, to take the stress off.”

Issa is interested in industry pathways or pursuing a fellowship. Still unsure about her future, she is particularly thankful for the experiences of rotations, which she believes helped her become a more rounded person with clinical judgment.

Overall, she sees herself as a public servant and works to promote an accessible form of healthcare to the public. She notes how this scholarship reflects the most central tenet of the profession and can’t wait to bring it into practice once she graduates.

“The idea of pharmacists giving back is built into our oath,” she said. “I think scholarships are just one way of doing that. A lot of people do it in other ways — with their time as preceptors, for example. Pharmacy is also a small world, so you’re able to meet people and gain these personal relationships with them. The culture of giving back has been so helpful to me as a student and as a future professional, and I can’t wait to pay it forward.”