Meet the College of Pharmacy Coaters

Congratulations to this year’s College of Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony Student Coaters!

The Student Coaters place white coats on the first-year students during the ceremony, which denotes new students’ role as future pharmacists and the many responsibilities that come with it. 

These four second-year pharmacy students were nominated by their peers and exhibit the qualities of ethical leadership, academic success, community/campus involvement and truly stand out as role models.

The Class of 2027 College of Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony will take place at 3 p.m., Friday, August 18, in the NEW Center Ballroom. 

Below, the Student Coaters share their advice for P1 students:

Stevie Allen

“The quickest way to feel like you don’t belong at NEOMED is to compare yourself to the people around you. Just be better than who you were yesterday; this journey is yours and yours alone. Own it.”

Victoria Ogonovskiy

“Do not procrastinate. Find time to hang out with your classmates, as you’ll be with them for four years so it’s good to get to know them. Dedicate some time every day to review material; there’s a lot of memorization.”

Benedict Pietras

“Congrats on being accepted into pharmacy school! It can be challenging to stay on top of things, but if you are consistent and organized, everything will be fine. Make sure to network with your peers and professors, and if you haven't already, pick up a job at a pharmacy to learn more about the field. Stay flexible and keep an open mind when learning, and don't forget to have fun along the way!” 

Mario Valletta

“Don’t be afraid to talk to your peers. Whether it’s the person sitting next to you or a P3 that was in your shoes only two years ago. We are all here to succeed but we also are here to help each other.”