When Jennifer Trujillo, PharmD, Associate Dean for Education at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, heard that PharmD students were creating a 2025 photo calendar as a fundraiser, she knew she wanted to participate.
“After being a student organization advisor for many years, I know how hard it is to come up with a great idea for a fundraiser,” Dr. Trujillo said. “This one sounded really fun, and I wanted to support the students.”
What made this calendar fun, specifically, is that students in Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society (PLS) decided to create it Awkward Family Photo-style. Started in 2009, the internet sensation “Awkward Family Photos” allows readers to submit their own strange images of years’ past (JC Penny Portrait Studio in 1989 type of past). Using it as inspiration, second-year PharmD students Kiri Carmody and Mya Maliyevsky decided to ask faculty to pose for their own awkward photos for each month of the year.
“I don’t know whose idea it was initially,” Maliyevsky explained. “But once we said it, we all loved it.”
The pair, who are part of the student leadership fundraising committee, visited faculty members to personally ask for their participation and got a bit of a surprise at faculty enthusiasm.
“We didn’t have to do much,” Carmody said.
“Once we asked faculty to do the pictures, they ran with it,” said Maliyevsky. “They came up with their themes, they recruited other faculty to do it. Dr. Trujillo even showed up with her own props!”
Trujillo recruited colleagues for her March-Madness themed shoot and found items around her house to take it to another level.
“I brought a lot of the props,” Trujillo agreed. “All three of my kids play basketball and are NBA fans so we have a lot of jerseys and basketballs in our house. I brought some headbands and wristbands and told everyone to wear their knee braces!”
Faculty members were more than happy to help out. In addition to the March Madness shoot, expect to see a turkey-themed November, a twin-themed January, and more.
“It was super fun just to take a break from the busy semester and do something silly with everyone,” Trujillo said. “We’re all moving in different directions all the time, so it was fun to get everyone organized and have everyone figure out which jersey they wanted. It was hilarious to see everyone in their ‘fits!”
Once they had the photos, Maliyevsky had the job of editing and creating each month’s layout, and Carmody, along with the rest of the student group, worked to sell the calendars – which have been a huge success. Proceeds from the calendar will support the organization’s leadership development programs and community outreach initiatives.
In addition to capturing 12 months of light-hearted images, the calendar serves as a visual reminder of the unique bond that exists between pharmacy students and their faculty mentors every day of the year.
Curious what Christmas in July looks like, or the student’s take on February’s focus on heart health? Click here to order your calendar before the Jan. 17 deadline to help support student creativity and pharmacy leadership.
