by Nicole Hackett, Student Public Relations Writer
Cedarville University will hold its annual White Coat Ceremony for first-year professional school of pharmacy students on September 12 at 10:30 a.m. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, all external guests are requested to attend over video livestreaming on Cedarville’s website.
“The White Coat Ceremony is the second biggest moment in one’s pharmacy career, with the first being passing the boards,” explained David Vance, 2024 pharmacy class president and first-year professional pharmacy student from Lexington, Ohio. “For me, the White Coat Ceremony is a moment of celebration as I reflect on the last four years with family, friends and fellow student-pharmacists as I begin my professional journey within the field of pharmacy and strive to become the Christian pharmacist that God is calling me to be.”
Cedarville will celebrate 42 new professional pharmacy students at the White Coat Ceremony. This year’s class is unique as nearly 50% of the class includes minority students or a blend of other, non-white cultural heritages.
“We are super excited to see how God has blended such a diverse group together to ensure pharmacy excellence with Christlike compassion,” said Dr. Jeffrey Bates, associate dean and associate professor of pharmacy practice.
This year's speaker is Dr. Jon Sprague, director of the Ohio Attorney General’s Center for the Future of Forensic Sciences and an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation eminent scholar at Bowling Green State University. He leads Ohio's committee on opioid prevention and education and has strategically worked with Cedarville’s school of pharmacy to foster scholarship among our faculty and students, overseeing the area of substance abuse disorders.
“The White Coat Ceremony is a huge affirmation that I am where God wants me to be,” said Sutherlin Calhoun, 2024 pharmacy class vice-president and first-year professional pharmacy student from Whitestown, Indiana. “I have often been uncertain about my path in pharmacy, but I’ve worked hard and pushed through so much to be where I am now. For me, the white coat is the solidification of my professional identity as a pharmacist. It is also a sign that God has brought me this far and that he will continue to guide me through my education and my career.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,550 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including its Doctor of Pharmacy program, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and high student engagement ranking. For more information about Cedarville University, visit www.cedarville.edu.