The UGA College of Pharmacy welcomed 145 new Doctor of Pharmacy students at its annual White Coat Ceremony on Aug. 15 at the UGA Performing Arts Center. Sponsored by Kroger Pharmacy, the ceremony marked an important milestone for the Class of 2030 as students donned their white coats for the first time. The coats will become a familiar part of their experience as they move through the Doctor of Pharmacy program and begin preparing for careers in pharmacy.

“The White Coat Ceremony marks the beginning of an exciting journey for the Class of 2030,” said Dean Kelly Smith. “We are proud to welcome these talented students to the UGA College of Pharmacy and look forward to supporting them throughout their time at UGA as they prepare to make a difference in the lives of their patients and communities.”

The Class of 2030 entered the program with an average cumulative GPA of 3.52 and an average prerequisite GPA of 3.47. Nearly 76% of students also have previous pharmacy experience.

Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Science is the most common undergraduate major, representing 49% of the class. Biology follows at 22%, while 7% of students majored in chemistry. More than half of the class, 55%, earned their undergraduate degree from UGA.

Most members of the Class of 2030 are Georgia residents. The class represents 58 Georgia counties, with 94.5% of students coming from the state. Students from four states are represented in the class, and 22.1% are first-generation college students.

Caroline Kicklighter, senior director and medical lead at Kardigan and a member of the UGA Pharmacy Alumni Board, delivered the keynote address. Kicklighter spoke to the Class of 2030 as they begin their pharmacy education and welcomed them to the profession.

The White Coat Ceremony marks the beginning of the students’ professional education and their first steps toward becoming pharmacists.

Congratulations to the Class of 2030!