School of Pharmacy honors graduates at ceremony on HSC Quad on May 11.

The School of Pharmacy's greatest celebration of the year – graduation – honored 245 distinctive students as they joined the ranks of Trojan alumni.

Dean R. Pete Vanderveen presided over the activities. The commencement speaker, Lynn Rolston, chief executive officer of the California Pharmacists Association, encouraged the new graduates to move on in their careers, always making sure to leave the world a better place.

Those watching the ceremony saw 187 individuals become Doctors of Pharmacy. Professor Susie Park administered the Oath of the Pharmacist to the doctors. Included among the Pharm.D. graduates were dual-degree recipients, including two earning the Pharm.D./MBA, one gaining a Pharm.D./MPH and eight students taking home the Pharm.D./MS in Regulatory Science.

Doctor of Philosophy degrees were awarded to 11 students in three concentrations. Five students were honored with the PhD. in molecular pharmacology and toxicology. The Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences was awarded to four students and the Ph.D. in pharmaceutical economics and policy bestowed on two students.

Three students received MS degrees in pharmaceutical sciences and thirteen students celebrated receipt of their MS in regulatory science. When including those receiving the Pharm.D./MS in regulatory science, a total of 21 students left the ceremony with the MS in regulatory science degree.

The ceremony also recognized 29 residents and 2 fellows upon completion of their programs conducted in clinical and industry settings.

After all the degrees were awarded, Dean Vanderveen, along with attending faculty and honored guests, led a champagne toast in honor of the new graduates. The celebration continued as the Trojan Band filled the tented quad with familiar Trojan tunes.

For the first time, the School's commencement was streamed live through the School's website. Overflow crowds attending the ceremony were accommodated in the School's lecture halls where the live video stream was projected. Following the ceremony, a reception was held on the HSC Quad.