AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. – The Harrison School of Pharmacy’s Class of 2018 joined the Auburn Family on Saturday, Aug. 16 as friends and family joined the incoming student pharmacists at the 2014 White Coat Ceremony.

The class includes six Huntsville area natives: Cameron James Baker, Cassandra J. Curry, Robert James Jenkins, Tiana Samlowski, Mary Hannah Walters and Kellyn Mahesh Wilson.

• Curry, the daughter of Charlotte and Tim Curry, is a Madison native and a 2011 graduate of Bob Jones High School. She attended Auburn the last three years, completing her prerequisites for pharmacy school.
• Jenkins, the son of Jim and Mary Beth Jenkins, is a Madison native and a 2011 graduate of Bob Jones High School. He attended Auburn the last three years, completing his prerequisites for pharmacy school.
• Samlowski, the daughter of Dr. Ralph Samlowski and Mrs. Jana Samlowski, is a Madison native and a 2010 graduate of Bob Jones High School. She earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of Alabama – Huntsville.
• Walters, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Walters, is a Madison native and a 2010 graduate of Bob Jones High School. She earned a bachelor of science degree in biomedical sciences from Auburn University.

The White Coat Ceremony, one of the most anticipated milestones in a pharmacist’s path, signified the end of the Foundations of Pharmacy orientation week and the beginning of the four-year journey of pharmacy school. The presentation of their own white coats, used to recognize health care professionals throughout the world, represents the next crucial stage of their education in which they will actively engage with patients and other professionals.

At the Harrison School of Pharmacy, faculty members view student pharmacists as junior colleagues in the profession of pharmacy. Thus, the presentation of the white coat symbolizes their formal induction into the profession of pharmacy. While the students are still trainees, the event symbolizes their entry into the profession of pharmacy.

“I consider it to be a privilege and honor to be the person that coats students on their arrival and hoods them when they graduate,” said HSOP Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs Paul Jungnickel. “The day of the white coat ceremony and graduation day are my two most favorite days on the HSOP’s academic calendar. Presenting the white coats to members of our entering class is especially meaningful to me and I enjoy sharing in this joyous time for our entering class.”

The Class of 2018 is made up of 149 students with 127 on the Auburn campus and 22 on the Mobile campus. The group brings a diverse background to HSOP as the class is made up of students from 16 different states and nearly 40 different universities.