Today, 211 undergraduate, graduate and PharmD students crossed the stage at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’ 146th Commencement at the Albany Capital Center in Albany, NY.
Who is the ACPHS Class of 2026?
The graduates come from various towns and cities throughout New York state as well as:
- Twenty-three additional states, including: CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OR, PA, RI, TX, VA, VT, WA
- Two U.S. territories: Guam and Puerto Rico
- Eleven countries, including: United States, Antigua & Barbuda (St. John), Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, India, Israel, Kenya, Nigeria, South Korea, Taiwan
Among these students, degrees to be conferred include:
- 114 Bachelor of Science candidates, of them:
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- 49 BS Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPK) degrees awarded concurrently to PharmD students, and one BS Public Health degree awarded concurrently to a PharmD student
- 48 Master of Science degree candidates
- 11 Bachelor of Science/Master of Science combined degree program candidates
- 87 Doctor of Pharmacy degree candidates
Pomp and Circumstance
A time-honored procession punctuated by bagpipes from Capital District United Pipe Band and an inspiring rendition of the National Anthem by ACPHS alumna, Alicia Bautista ’21, kicked off the festivities. Board of Trustees Chair, Walt Borienok, opened the ceremony.
Borisenok, who led a pharmaceutical company after getting a degree as a microbiologist, encouraged students to be flexible, adaptable and never stop learning.
President Tofade welcomed the graduates and their families and friends before introducing the Commencement speaker, David M. Stack ’76. Stack retired in January 2024 from Pacira Biosciences. For 17 years, he served as chairman and CEO building the organization into a fully integrated acute care company with a non-opioid pain portfolio responsible for treating more than 17 million patients in the United States.
“Today is the start of your new beginning. Please be bold, curious, tenacious, and courageous to attack opportunities to develop new technologies and new medicines/devices to improve patient care,” Stack told the graduates. “Believe in yourself. You are an expert. Too often, access decisions are being made by people with no healthcare education training or orientation. Be the voice of your patients.”
This year’s student speaker, Ejoraa Ninche is a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology degree candidate from Long Island, New York. She plans to pursue medical school through Upstate Medical University’s early admissions program. Ninche explored the question of “why not?” in her remarks and how this has shaped her journey through life and at ACPHS.
“Looking back, every why not moment in my life was me doing the best I could with what I knew at the time. I did not have all the answers. And with each experience, I learned, and I grew,” she said. “And that is what ACPHS has given me, and I believe it has given us all. This institution has forced us to step out of our comfort zones. It has challenged us to think differently. And it has prepared us not just to succeed, but to keep improving.”
President’s Charge to the Class of 2026
ACPHS President, Toyin Tofade, concluded the ceremony with a charge for students. She encouraged the graduates to LOVE their careers:
- Love what you do.
- Observe and learn from those that have gone ahead of you.
- Vibrant. Bring vibrance and vivaciousness to your work. People love to hang around happy people.
- Excellence. Continue to be excellent on every project, every task, every relationship. Take your ACPHS values with you wherever you go.
“Again, I say to the Class of 2026, you remain part of the ACPHS community forever. Stay in touch. Bring your new knowledge of the world back to future classes, as alumni, preceptors, guest lecturers, mentors – as others have done for you.”
Each ACPHS graduate has a unique story to share about their journey and why they chose ACPHS. From academic excellence, internships, residencies and fellowships to community service, research, and leadership, learn more about some of their experiences.
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