ETSUs Gatton College of Pharmacy graduates 76 in commencement exercise

JOHNSON CITY A commencement ceremony took place Friday morning for the 76 students making up the Class of 2016 in the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy at East Tennessee State University.

During his address, Dean Larry Calhoun congratulated the new pharmacists and thanked them for choosing ETSU.

These students have made the Gatton College of Pharmacy their own and they are leaving it a better college than what it was when they came in, Calhoun said. You have left your mark here.

Class President Tiffany Ratliff, in her speech, noted how quickly four years have gone by.

A lot can be accomplished in four years, she said. Weve finally reached the pinnacle of all our studies. Hard work really does pay off and today is proof of that.

For Joshua Jones, of Ocala, Florida, the ceremony served as a true symbol of both and ending and a new beginning.

After eight years of college, this is a huge accomplishment, said Jones, who received his undergraduate degree from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts before coming to Gatton. Its so surreal.  

Following graduation, Jones will assume a pharmacy residency position at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina.

As the seventh graduating class at Gatton, the Class of 2016 has the most students going on to post-graduate training of any class in the pharmacy schools history. The graduating class also boasted the most number of students achieving a 4.0 GPA. Six graduates Erika Bowen, Shea Davis, Aaron Garst, Kelley Stafford, Jordan Summers and Stephen Widing were recognized with the Valedictorian Award for garnering perfect GPAs during their time at Gatton.

The commencement marked the final one for Calhoun as dean of the school. The founding dean of the college announced last fall that he would be stepping down from the role at the end of this academic year.

ETSU President Brian Noland took a moment during his remarks Friday to recognize Calhoun for his leadership and dedication over the last 10-plus years at the helm.

While the College of Pharmacy bears the name of Bill Gatton, it has the soul of Larry Calhoun, Noland said. Dr. Calhoun has made this college his lifes passion.