To the class of ’16: Go forth with power, love and a sound mind!
VCU School of Pharmacy alumnus Michael Elliott (Pharm.D. ’02) offered words of inspiration to the class of ’16 during its May 13 Hooding and Diploma Ceremony at St. Paul’s Baptist Church.
Having worked from bullet points — the way he best connects with his audience — rather than writing out his speech verbatim, Elliott agreed to share a few notes he’d like students to remember:
- My challenge for the class of 2016 is to rise up and climb into their destinies in life. I asked them to remember three things from my message … as they rise up and climb into their destinies, they must do it it with Power, Love and a Sound Mind!
- I gave examples of power in my life, including the speech therapist who helped me control my stutter in kindergarten so that one day I might have the confidence to stand in front of a distinguished crowd of hundreds, like this one, to deliver a speech. I also shared the power of friendship shared with me by a kid in my kindergarten class with whom I remain friends today. The power of the speech therapist’s knowledge and the power of friendship were powerful in my life. I challenged everyone to find their power and wield it.
- Next we discussed love. I challenged the class to love all of their patients and colleagues even when they may not deserve it. Your patients, colleagues, family and friends will all do things that disappoint you. But love them, anyway. Not because they do or don’t deserve it, but because that is what we are called to do.
- Lastly, I implored the class to climb into their destinies with a sound mind. Regardless of how successful we are, how many milestones we hit and how many talents we have been blessed with, many of us fill our minds with negativity. We think about not being good enough, not being smart enough and what if we fail. I challenged the class to take these negative thoughts, lock them in the closet and get on with rising up and climbing into their destinies.
- Go forth with Power, go forth with Love and go forth with a Sound Mind!
Tom Reinders, associate dean for admissions and student services, presented the 130 Pharm.D. recipients, and Aron Lichtman, associate dean of research and graduate studies, presented the 13 graduate students receiving M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. Faculty Emily Peron and Ben Van Tassell served as marshals, escorting and hooding the Pharm.D. students. Graduate students were hooded by their individual advisors.
Dean Joseph T. DiPiro made opening remarks. His acknowledgment of Reinders’ retirement this summer, after 41 years with the university, earned the associate dean a standing ovation.
Jake Buck delivered the Pharm.D. senior class address, and class president Brett Loehr offered reflections on his classmates’ years together as pharmacy students. Loehr also presented the class gift, a contribution to the MCV Foundation in memory of Charles “Chuck” Baker (B.S. ’72), father of Mimi Baker, class of ’16.
Professor Jurgen Venitz administered the Pharmacist’s Oath.
Reinders estimated that the class of ’16 attracted about 1,300 family members and friends, the largest Hooding and Diploma Ceremony audience in the last several years. “Michael Elliott was a great graduation speaker,” he added.
Elliott, who is senior vice president and COO for Centra Health in Lynchburg, Va., also earned a master’s in health administration at VCU in 2007.
Categories Alumni news, Faculty and staff news, Graduate students, Student news