The University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy welcomed 102 new students to the Class of 2028 during the annual White Coat Ceremony held August 23 at the Koger Center.  

A few things to note about the Class of 2028: 

• 15 states and nations are represented in the class, including Puerto Rico, Canada and South Korea
• 90 students began their undergraduate studies at USC
• 49 students entered the College of Pharmacy through the Gamecock Pharmacy Assurance Pathway
• 14 are first generation students
• 7 are legacy students 

Putting on the white coat is a rite of passage. You represent the trust, professionalism, honesty and integrity that are the hallmarks of the pharmacy profession. - Dean Stephen J. Cutler

Ranarda Jones, ‘03, this year’s Outstanding Young Alumna, shared some valuable advice with the new student pharmacists. 
“Always be your true and authentic self, and never be afraid to admit when you are wrong,” she advises. “To succeed you have to have a thirst for knowledge, find some humor in life, and build lasting connections.” 

Dean Stephen J. Cutler reminded the class that the white coat is a symbol of both personal and professional responsibility. 
“Putting on the white coat is a rite of passage,” he says, “and with it comes the responsibility to understand not just the ailments of your patients, but their struggles and needs. You represent the trust, professionalism, honesty and integrity that are the hallmarks of the pharmacy profession.”