The Physician Assistant Studies Class (PAS) of 2012 sets a generous example for graduating classes of the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with a donation to a scholarship fund assisting their colleagues. The PAS Class of 2012 has donated $900 to the Lara Rutan, MS, PA-C Endowed Scholarship Fund.

In a letter to Rick and Judy Rutan, parents of Lara, the class acknowledged the memorial website www.laraslegacy.com established by the family. "We were touched by Lara's life and accomplishments. We are sorry for your great loss and we are humbled that you have chosen to commemorate her life through this scholarship fund that provides assistance to our classmates and future colleagues. Through this memorial scholarship, Lara will be remembered forever and will continue to touch the lives of future students."

"I express my deep appreciation to the Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2012," said Dean Lloyd Young. "This thoughtfulness is outstanding. We encourage our alumni to support the college, but to have students make a donation before entering the working world is just dynamic."

The Lara Rutan Memorial Scholarship was established in 2007 by her family. Ms. Rutan had graduated from the PAS program in 2005, was employed as a PA at a clinic in Roseville, MI, and was engaged to be married before her life was taken tragically by a drunk driver in September 2005.

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, one of the founding colleges of Wayne State University, is committed to advancing the health and well-being of society through the preparation of highly skilled health care practitioners, and through research to improve health care practices and treatment from urban to global levels.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.

June 13, 2012
Contact: Kathleen J. Karas, APR
Phone: 313-577-2312
Email: kkaras@wayne.edu