HOLLIS – Mackenzie Howe, a second-year student at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Manchester, was awarded the Dr. Vahrij Manoukian memorial scholarship on Tuesday morning at the Hollis Pharmacy and General Store.

The pharmacy, located at 6 Ash St., was founded by Dr. Manoukian in 1985, and is now operated by Andrew Gyorda.

Dr. Manoukian’s sister, Vera Manoukian, awarded the first-ever scholarship to Howe, of Hooksett.

“We are honored to continue Vahrij’s legacy,” she said. “The pharmacy is very near and dear to my brother, who passed two years ago. Mackenzie, we are so thrilled that you were selected as the person to receive the first check from his scholarship foundation.”

Vera Manoukian spoke of her brother, who came to the United States in 1977 and resided in Boston before moving to New Hampshire in 1980.

“He became very successful,” Vera Manoukian said. “I think you have a lot in common with him. He also had some adversity in his life as you did, with the loss of your mom and how hard you’re working to make your mom proud up there. So, we have a couple of people up there to make proud.”

Dr. Manoukian was a graduate of Northeastern University and completed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. He received his doctorate from MCPHS and owned and operated the Hollis Pharmacy for 33 years.

“He had a huge heart,” Vera Manoukian continued. “He healed people, not just with medication, but with heart and his kind words. He made a difference in people’s lives.”

Howe thanked the family for the scholarship in Dr. Manoukian’s memory.

“This is a very difficult journey to be on, but it’s something that I’m very passionate about,” Howe said. “From the bottom of my heart, I am so incredibly grateful.”

Among the attendees were his brother and sister-in-law Vatche and Linda Manoukian, many local friends, scholarship committee member Paul Boisseau and scholarship chairperson Cheryl Abel.

Dr. Manoukian was a selectmen for the Town of Hollis and was the recipient of the Town of Hollis Citizen of the Year award in 2015.

Longtime friend Peter Band said Dr. Manoukian “knew when people needed help.”

“Vahrij was sensitive and caring,” Band said. “He helped people in this town. There were countless people who needed help with their medicines and other things. He never talked about it. He was such a caring soul. He and I were best friends and not a day goes by that I don’t miss him. We loved him then and we love him now.”