Glendale Students Receive Their White Coats

Last Friday, more than 700 first-year students from the Glendale Campus received their white coats. A painting helped to tell their story.

Last year as their class gift, the Biomedical Sciences students gave the University a painting of four students, standing by the reflecting pond on campus, and looking at the reflection of themselves wearing white coats. The painting represented their dreams of becoming health care professionals. At the ceremony, the dreams of many came true. With a packed auditorium, each student came to the stage to be coated for the first time by their faculty, with their family and friends looking on with pride.

The White Coat, by Malcolm Blazer

Dr. G spoke about the symbolism of the painting in her remarks. After the ceremony, many students came to the stage to have their photos taken by the picture. Other students lined up along the pond at the front of campus and took a photo of their reflection in the water...in their white coats. The image clearly resonated.

Dr. G leads the students in the Oath of Commitment

I once again had the honor of watching this impressive ceremony from the front row of the stage, and I had the privilege of giving the benediction. I also took some paparazzi-like photos of Dr. G and the students reading the oath. A bit blurry, but hopefully you can get the feeling of 700 students in their new white coats, ready to make a difference in health care and in their lives. It is an unforgettable moment for many, and a dream to be realized for many more.