Congratulations to the Class of 2011

Commencement was held on May 7 for the Pharm.D., Ph.D., and M.S. graduates in the College of Pharmacy. This was the first year that the Ph.D. and M.S. graduates received their degrees alongside the Pharm.D. graduates. It was also the first time that the ceremony was held at Ted Mann Concert Hall, which provided a much more intimate setting than Northrup Auditorium in the past. Congratulations are in order for all the graduates for their success and years of hard work in achieving such as significant accomplishment. As the Pharm.D. Class Advisor in the Twin Cities, I am especially proud of the class and it was fun to work with them during the last four years.

The Pharm.D. Class of 2011

Graduate festivities were kicked off the night before graduation on Friday, May 6 with the Pre-Commencement Celebration and Awards ceremony at the DQ Club Room in TCF Bank Stadium. It was a fun time to visit with the students and talk with them about their future plans. The Pharm.D. selected their Preceptors of the Year, and they were recognized for provided exceptional experiences for students during their clinical rotations. The main reason for the celebration was formal recognition of a variety of awards given to students for excellence and achievement in many professional activities. I was given two minutes to address the class, and the focus of my comments was that the Pharm.D. degree provides a strong scientific foundation for success for any future professional endeavor in patient care and drug research. It was also the first time that I've had a speech piped into bathrooms!


Prior to Commencement, faculty were invited to a brunch at the Hubert H. Humphrey Center to recognize teaching awards. I was honored to be selected Professor of the Semester for both the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses for Fall 2010 from the Class of 2013.

Faculty proceed towards the stage of Ted Mann Concert Hall

Introductory remarks from Henning Schroeder, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School

Ted Mann was a beautiful site for Commencement along the Mississippi River on the West Bank of campus, and we were fortunate to have a gorgeous spring day. Following the usual introductory remarks from University officials, the Class Speakers from the Duluth campus, Benjamin Aronson, and the Twin Cities campus, Matt Hammer, were introduced for their addresses to the class. Ben's speech incorporated a rap song, which was certainly unique. The Teachers of the Class, Mike Swanoski (Duluth) and Jeannine Conway (Twin Cities), also addressed the class with some inspiring comments. United States Senator Amy Klobuchar was the invited Commencement Speaker, and her 20 minute talk about growing up in Minnesota, her experiences in Washington, DC, and the changes taking place in our health care systems was fitting for the occasion. Senator Klobuchar was both witty and charming in her delivery, and it's easy to see why she's a popular figure in Minnesota and Washington, DC. The funniest part of her talk was her story about nearly walking out before President Bill Clinton at an event during her days as an intern. You can listen to Senator Klobuchar's speech here.

Senator Amy Klobuchar address the Pharm.D. Class of 2011

Conferral of degrees

Our new Associate Dean for Graduate Education, Esam El-Fakahany, presented 13 students with their Ph.D. and M.S. degrees from all departments in the College. I had the task of presenting all 160-odd Pharm.D. graduates, and fortunately I didn't lose my place on the list as I was reading the names. Following recitation of the Professional Oath of a Pharmacist by the class, Dean Marilyn Speedie provided the closing remarks. The Metropolitan Men's Chorus closed the event with their rendition of "Hail! Minnesota" and an Irish Blessing. Their improvised verse in "Hail! Minnesota" is quite funny and always brings down the house. Commencement was a wonderful event this year, and I offer my sincere congratulations to the class.

Metropolitan Men's Chorus sings "Hail! Minnesota"

All photos are from the College of Pharmacy, and additional photos can be viewed by clicking on any of the pictures above or by clicking here.