The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy recognized two members of its community as recipients of 2026 Lyman T. Johnson Awards during the 35th annual Lyman T. Johnson Awards Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 9, in the Gatton Student Center Grand Ballroom.
Hosted by the UK Alumni Association's Lyman T. Johnson Alumni Constituency Group as part of Homecoming, the annual event honors alumni and students from each academic college who embody the spirit, service and legacy of Lyman T. Johnson.
This year's College of Pharmacy honorees are Lu Shawna Lawson, Pharm.D. (’01), M.P.A., recipient of the Torch of Excellence Award, and Griffin Nemeth, recipient of the Torch Bearer Award. These awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated leadership, academic excellence, service and a commitment to improving the lives of others.
Torch of Excellence: Lu Shawna Lawson, Pharm.D., M.P.A.
Lawson serves as a senior pharmacist with Community Health Network Specialty Pharmacy in Indianapolis. She provides advanced pharmaceutical care and medication therapy management across a range of specialty practice areas including oncology, HIV, hepatitis C, rheumatology and endocrinology.
Lawson earned both her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the College of Pharmacy and a Master of Public Administration from the Martin School of Public Policy. Her career has included leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry, hospital pharmacy and community practice.
She currently is in her third term as national president of Lambda Kappa Sigma Pharmacy Fraternity, and she engages with her community through the Rophe Free Clinic, Oasis of Hope Baptist Church and its Dollars for Scholars Board.
Torch Bearer: Griffin Nemeth
Nemeth is a fourth-year dual Pharm.D./M.B.A. student in the UK College of Pharmacy and the UK Gatton College of Business and Economics. His work has focused on public health, advocacy and policy engagement, particularly in tobacco prevention.
Nemeth has helped educate nearly 1,000 Kentucky students through classroom programs, statewide conferences and events at the Kentucky State Capitol. He has worked alongside students and community partners to advance tobacco prevention initiatives, mentor youth and provide opportunities for students to engage directly with policymakers. He has also testified in support of tobacco-related legislation and contributed to efforts that have advanced tobacco control policy in Kentucky and beyond.
He plans to pursue a career at the intersection of pharmacy, public health and government affairs while continuing to serve the profession through leadership and community engagement.
About the Awards
The awards celebrate the enduring impact of Lyman T. Johnson, who, in 1949, became the first African American student to enroll at the University of Kentucky after a successful legal challenge against segregation. Johnson’s courage and commitment to education opened doors for countless students and remain a guiding light for the university community.
