Meet Cassandra Kolka

Tell us about yourself

My name is Cassandra Kolka, but everybody just calls me Cassie. I am a first-year pharmacy student at Ferris State University and a proud member of Alpha Iota Chapter. Since joining in Fall 2015, I have held the positions of Vice President, Sports, Community Service, Membership Orientation, Fundraising, and Sisterhood. I absolutely cherish these experiences in our chapter and look forward to the years ahead with my sisters. Outside of LKS, I am the College of Pharmacy Class of 2022 President, the Health and Wellness Chairperson in Panhellenic Council, Operations Disease Management committee member in APhA, an active member in ASHP and The National Society of Collegiate Scholars and past graduate and Outstanding Scholar Finalist of Ferris State’s Honors Program.

For work, I am currently a Pharmacy Intern at Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital as well as a manager’s assistant at Campus Village Apartments. After work and school, I enjoy dedicating my free time serving the community whether it be at our local hospital, middle school, food pantries, or assisted living centers. Throughout my journey at Ferris State I have been honored to receive recognition for my involvements on campus and in the community. The university has presented me with the awards of Rising Star, Michigan Campus Compact Heart and Soul, Fraternity and Sorority Life Servant Leader, Community Impact, and 2018 Volunteer of the Year. Outside of volunteering I also love taking my retriever for walks, playing the piano, kayaking, spending time with friends, and making trips back to Gaylord, Michigan, my hometown, to see family.

I joined LKS because

Being a freshman in college, I was looking for a way to get involved on campus when Lambda Kappa Sigma caught my attention. After attending a few recruitment events, I decided to join LKS because it offered amazing opportunities to grow personally and professionally with support from people pursuing the same career ambitions as myself. Becoming a part of this organization is one of the best decisions I have made in my entire life, and my time at Ferris State University would not be the same without it.

My most memorable LKS experience

My most memorable experience in LKS was Christmas Caroling at Metron Assisted Living Center last semester with sisters. We went from room to room singing each resident’s favorite song. One resident asked us to sing “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and sincerely thanked us afterward because, even though she could not go home for Christmas, we brought her holiday spirit back.

Career plans

My future plans in the profession are still unknown, as I spend a lot of time job shadowing various areas of pharmacy from ambulatory care to infectious diseases. I like to keep an open mind towards all the exciting possibilities. I cannot wait to learn more and discover where I will fit best.