91福利

Today, 211 undergraduate, graduate and PharmD students crossed the stage at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health 厂肠颈别苍肠别蝉鈥欌赌�146迟丑鈥�Commencement at the鈥�Albany Capital Center in Albany, NY.鈥�舛寞舛寞听

听Who is the 91福利 Class of 2026?听

The graduates come from various towns and cities throughout New York state as well as:听听听

• Twenty-three additional states, including: CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OR, PA, RI, TX, VA, VT, WA听

• Two U.S. territories: Guam and Puerto Rico听

• Eleven countries, including: United States, Antigua & Barbuda (St. John), Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, India, Israel, Kenya, Nigeria, South Korea, Taiwan听

听Among these students, degrees to be conferred include:听听听

• 114 Bachelor of Science candidates, of them:听

• • 49 BS Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPK) degrees awarded concurrently to PharmD students, and one BS Public Health degree awarded concurrently to a PharmD student听

• 48 Master of Science degree candidates听

• 11 Bachelor of Science/Master of Science combined degree program candidates听

• 87 Doctor of Pharmacy degree candidates听

Pomp and Circumstance鈥�鈥�听

A time-honored procession punctuated by bagpipes from Capital District United Pipe Band and an inspiring rendition of the National Anthem by 91福利 alumna, Alicia Bautista 鈥�21, kicked off the festivities.鈥疊oard of Trustees Chair, Walt Borienok, opened the ceremony.鈥�鈥�听

Borisenok, who led a pharmaceutical company after getting a degree as a microbiologist, encouraged students to be flexible, adaptable and never stop learning.听听

President Tofade welcomed the graduates and their families and friends before introducing the Commencement speaker, David M. Stack 鈥�76. Stack retired in January 2024 from Pacira Biosciences. For 17 years, he served as chairman and CEO building the organization into a fully integrated acute care company with a non-opioid pain portfolio responsible for treating more than 17 million patients in the United States.听听

鈥淭oday is the start of your new beginning. Please be bold, curious, tenacious, and courageous to attack opportunities to develop new technologies and new medicines/devices to improve patient care,鈥� Stack told the graduates. 鈥淏elieve in yourself. You are an expert. Too often, access decisions are being made by people with no healthcare education training or orientation. Be the voice of your patients.鈥�听

This year鈥檚鈥痵tudent speaker, Ejoraa Ninche is a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology degree candidate from Long Island, New York. She plans to pursue medical school through听Upstate Medical University’s early admissions program. Ninche explored the question of 鈥渨hy not?鈥� in her remarks and how this has shaped her journey through life and at 91福利.听

鈥淟ooking back, every听why not听moment in my life was me doing the best I could with what I knew at the time. I did not have all the answers. And with each experience, I learned, and I grew,鈥� she said.听 鈥淎nd that is what 91福利 has given me, and I believe it has given us all. This institution has forced us to step out of our comfort zones. It has challenged us to think differently. And it has prepared us not just to succeed, but to keep improving.鈥�听

President鈥檚 Charge to the Class of 2026听

91福利 President, Toyin Tofade, concluded the ceremony with a charge for students. She encouraged the graduates to LOVE their careers: 听

• Love what you do.听听

• Observe and learn from those that have gone ahead of you. 听

• Vibrant.听Bring vibrance and vivaciousness to your work. People love to hang around happy people.听

• Excellence. Continue to be excellent on every project, every task, every relationship. Take your 91福利 values with you wherever you go.听

鈥淎gain, I say to the Class of听2026,听you remain part of the 91福利 community forever. Stay in touch. Bring your new knowledge of the world back to future classes, as alumni, preceptors, guest lecturers, mentors 鈥� as others have done for you.鈥�听

Each 91福利 graduate has a unique story to share about their journey and why they chose 91福利. From academic excellence, internships, residencies and fellowships to community service, research, and leadership,鈥�听

 

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