Hero Scholar: Kristi Parker

For Kristi Parker, service and education have always been the same mission. As Pharmacy Technician Program Director and Instructor at Granite Technical Institute, she has spent years mentoring high school students taking their first steps into healthcare, coordinating externship placements for 40-60 students annually with community pharmacies and healthcare partners.

Her professional foundation runs deep. Kristi has worked as a pharmacy technician since 2017, most recently at Salt Lake Specialty Hospital, where she supported safe medication distribution for inpatient units, building on nearly eight years at Walgreens serving her local community. Through HOSA, she teaches competitive skills, judges events, and proctors exams, watching students transform from hesitant beginners into confident healthcare professionals, an experience she describes as one of the most rewarding parts of her career.

Now pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy at Roseman University’s South Jordan campus, Kristi brings a rare foundation of hands-on pharmacy experience and a proven gift for mentorship. The Hero Scholarship, funded by HB Workplaces, will support her mission to become a pharmacist who empowers others, fosters collaborative teams, and improves patient care by bringing people together around a shared purpose.