Hall, who graduated in 1997, was class valedictorian; Kennedy, a 1998 graduate, was class salutatorian.
Little did they know that years later their professional goals would unfold in nearly locked step, that both would graduate with honors from the University of Montana's rigorous pharmacy program, be accepted into the same UM doctoral program, and together be on track to increase the number of American Indian pharmacy faculty members at American universities from five to seven - nearly a 30 percent increase.
On Saturday, the academic powerhouses graduate from UM with the prestigious and lucrative professional title: doctor of pharmacy.
With a nationwide shortage of pharmacists, they could land jobs immediately and earn a starting salary of around $85,000, said Lori Morin, the associate dean who helps guide UM's Pharmacy School within the College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences.
Instead, they are signing on for another three to five years at UM to get their Ph.D.s in pharmaceutical sciences, which will allow them to teach at the university level or choose careers in research.
Although Kennedy and Hall are humble about their accomplishments, UM faculty and staff who have watched their progression through the six-year program said the students have earned everyone's respect.
They have shown that success in the classroom begins with having a clear plan and committing to the challenge.
“They have been a model of excellence and how every student should go through college,” Morin said. “They have really partnered with us, and individually they looked for opportunities, have sought relationships within the program, developed mentors and utilized all of the campus resources available to the advantage of everyone.
“In the process, they have become better students, better professionals, and I think the institution, their hometown and profession are better off,” she said. “They are examples of how the education system ought to work.”
Kennedy said she's learned two major lessons as a undergraduate: “The more you learn, the less you know,” and, “I've learned that I can actually succeed.”
“I'm graduating with high honors,” said the 26-year-old, “and that is an accomplishment I didn't think was possible.”
Said Hall: “I've learned if you are willing to put in the work, you can do just about anything you set your mind to.”
Although she started her UM career with a lot of self-doubt and believed she couldn't academically compete, Kennedy's mind-set began to change when her work attracted national attention.
In 2002 and again in 2003, Kennedy was awarded the prestigious Morris K. Udall scholarship - a national program that awards 80 of America's top students who are committed to environmental careers, and/or are American Indians or Alaska Natives who are committed to careers in health care or tribal public policy.
The $5,000 scholarship is given to students with a 3.5 GPA or higher and who are considered future leaders.
“It's a wonderful program, and the students who get the award are from Harvard and Yale,” Kennedy said. “To know a University of Montana student got it says a lot about the quality of students here.
“To know that I got the scholarship twice is a huge honor,” she said.
Her initial doubts about succeeding in college have long since evaporated. While she's a worrier by nature, she has slowly come to the conclusion her professors reached long ago: “Now I know I'm good at what I do.”
Much of the graduates' success is credited to UM's Health Careers Opportunity Program, an intensive tutorial service the college provides.
Far from being a cold, sterile learning environment, the Health Careers Opportunity Program is staffed with inspiring and welcoming faculty and staff, Hall said.
“They become like a family away from home - an adopted extended family that coach you, push you along, are there to listen and give you confidence,” Kennedy said. “It's an excellent networking place, and it's nice to see other students with common goals and challenges who are in the program.”
While they have largely forged their own individual paths through the program, the graduates said they found comfort knowing someone from home was sharing in the same academic pressures.
“It was really nice to have Brian as a sounding board,” Kennedy said. “It was nice knowing a face from home, knowing someone who knows where I came from.”
There were many times when they laughed over awkward situations when colleagues or others jumped to conclusions about their hometown.
“People would physically recoil when I told them where I was from, and say things like, ‘Oh, that must of been rough,' or ‘I'm glad you got out of there,' ” Hall said.
“I really learned about this ingrained stereotype people have of Browning,” said the 27-year-old, “that it's a bad place to grow up.
“That's just not true.”
“It's a great place to grow up,” Kennedy said. Eventually, sometime in the future, Kennedy and Hall hope their paths bring them back to Browning.
Each in their own way wants to help younger generations succeed, just as UM's pharmacy faculty has helped them.
“They are so committed to their students in this program,” Hall said.
“They give you so much support and encouragement,” Kennedy said.
As UM has done for them, Hall hopes the successes he and Kennedy have attained will serve as a beacon to others back home.
“I hope our work is a light,” he said, “one that says, ‘You can do this.' ”
No matter how their futures shake out - if Hall chooses to teach and Kennedy chooses a research career - they will no doubt be amazing role models, said Estella Anderson, assistant director of diversity programs in the College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences.
“These two individuals are intellectual, kind and hardworking,” Anderson said. “It doesn't matter if they end up as a faculty member or working in a pharmacy - people will look up to them.”
Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at bcohen@missoulian.com
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