A DAY OF FIRSTS: COMMENCEMENT

A DAY OF FIRSTS

USC’s commencement exercises for the classes of 2020 and 2021 in May were held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the first time in 70 years—complete with a lit torch.

It was also the first time two separate graduating classes shared a commencement, as well as the first time many graduates had seen each other in person in more than a year due to the pandemic. PharmD students who volunteered at citywide COVID-19 vaccine clinics as part of the School of Pharmacy’s leadership role in combating the pandemic were among the notable exceptions. But they shared the joy of

gathering with classmates to celebrate the milestone of graduation.

The School of Pharmacy joined with the Keck School of Medicine, Roski School of Fine Arts, and the Iovine and Young Academy for the first in the university’s weeklong series of graduation ceremonies, held twice a day from May 14–20. Spacing the celebrations out allowed for physical distancing and the opportunity for more friends and family to gather for the events.

School of Pharmacy Dean Vassilios Papadopoulos addressed the graduates from the stage and introduced a video greeting from Mayor Eric Garcetti (above right). The mayor applauded the efforts of pharmacy students, faculty and staff, and their health sciences colleagues for their work at the vaccine clinics. The School of Pharmacy partnered with the mayor’s office, L.A. Fire Department and the nonprofit Community Organized Relief Effort at vaccine point-of-dispensing sites, including the nation’s largest at Dodger Stadium.

“We’ve all dreamt of this day and now it is finally here,” Papadopoulos told the graduates. “You’ve shown the true Trojan spirit to Fight On.”

The school held its own virtual commencement celebration later the same day.