When the class of 2021 first began their Pharmaceutical Sciences and Molecular Medicine and Doctor of Pharmacy journeys, no one could have imagined how it would end—there was no global pandemic on the horizon and it was beyond imagination that their final year would be spent any differently than those of their predecessors.
During commencement week, the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) celebrated all that the class of 2021 has accomplished over the past year and the course of their graduate education. The celebrations began with a Doctor of Pharmacy Virtual Senior Awards Celebration on Thursday, May 6 and continued on Friday when graduates were invited to participate in a drive-through commencement on the WSU Health Sciences Spokane campus before wrapping up the commencement week with a YouTube ceremony held by Washington State University on Saturday, May 8.
“We are here to acknowledge and celebrate this singular achievement in your lives and nothing can change that,” said CPPS Dean Mark Leid during the drive-through ceremony. “You have stepped up and faced adversity and demonstrated your resilience repeatedly over the past year and we are so very proud of you. Congratulations, graduates for a job well done.”
All pieces of the celebrations can be found on the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences virtual celebration page which recognizes the accomplishments of the four PhD of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Molecular Medicine, one Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences and 164 Doctor of Pharmacy graduates.
Through video messages posted to the page, guest speakers and alumni showed up to congratulate graduates on this milestone in their lives. As keynote speaker, Tyler Fischback, class of 2009, said in his video address, “A picture of what it looks like to grow professionally is the person with their hand up saying, ‘I’ll help.’”
This year’s graduates have raised their hands again and again: stepping up to help in their communities, adapting to change, and persevering through a global pandemic. As a whole, the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty and staff wishes the class of 2021 a heartfelt congratulations and Go Cougs!