The 30th spring commencement of Campbell University’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences was its largest, with 276 undergraduate and graduate degrees spanning several programs conferred Friday at the Pope Convocation Center.
Those students were reminded by the ceremony’s keynote speaker — Dr. Allen Mask, medical reporter and commentator for WRAL and NBC News who in 1985 opened the Raleigh Urgent Care Center — that the various professions they’ve chosen make them the “Navy Seals of college graduates” because of the rigorous nature of their curriculums.
“The courses you have mastered — from pharmacology, physiology, biochemistry and anatomy — they are some of the most difficult subjects on this Earth,” Smart said. “You came, you saw and you conquered … from the boardrooms to the boardwalks, the brainpower assembled here is the best in the country.”
In his commencement address, Mask outlined key points for the students to remember throughout their careers — to be humble and compassionate; to listen to your patients; to keep ethics at the forefront; to take care of yourself; and to be thankful and remember your spirituality.
“We are blessed to do God’s work to help heal and preserve life,” he said. “God gives us our senses — the gift of sight to see the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the gift of hearing to enjoy the wailing of a newborn baby or the whisper of a dying patient. The gift of smell to smell the sweet gardenias of our mother’s garden. The gift of touch to feel the warmth of a handshake or the hug of a dear friend.”
“The gift of our brain which is more sophisticated than the Hubble Space Telescope or the cockpit of a Lear jet. A heart that beats 70-80 times per minute, 60 minutes an hour, 24 hours a day for the years we are on this earth — a heart that gives us passion to love one another as God has loved us.”
After the memorable address, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Mark L. Hammond presented the candidates for graduation and Dr. Creed conferred the degrees. Diplomas and hoods were then presented by faculty representing each graduating program to the graduates as they walked across the stage.
Dean Adams gave closing remarks and Heather Michelle Mabry (’20 BSN Candidate) lead the congregation in singing Lead on, O King Eternal. The benediction was delivered by Marcus Stanaland (’14 PharmD, ’14 MSCR, ’14 MBA), president of the CPHS Alumni Association.
Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2019 President, Sara Jones said she couldn’t be more humbled or excited to earn her doctorate degree and join a group of “exceptional Campbell alumni pharmacists.”
“This moment would not be possible without the dedicated faculty and staff of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, my wonderful family and friends, and most importantly my savior, Jesus Christ,” Jones said, citing Philippians 4:13. “Now on to a life of continued service and care to patients.”
