neverball | obstacle course before time runs | Animation library

I wrote the following script to help me study.

The program closes distracting apps if found running while the script is being executed.

I want some way to expand the scope of monitoring for programs i.e close more programs while the script is running. For example, if nautilus, neverball, transmission etc are running too, they should be met with the same fate i.e pkill.

I don't want to write more lines i.e make more if..then statements. I want some way for this same code to cycle through the variable $program for all these values each iteration. Something like an array ? I'm not entirely sure of the bash way to do it so if you can think of a better way, tell me.