Historic Class of 2020 makes history… again

On May 16, 2020, the College of Pharmacy did something for the first time in the history of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC): held a live, online presentation of its entire 2020 Awards Ceremony and Hooding Convocation.

Graduates were hooded by friends and relatives in their own homes, with each taking the virtual stage for a moment in the spotlight in front of their classmates. The College combined a Zoom group call with live streaming on YouTube so that other family and friends could watch as well. Nearly all of the 86-member class participated. 

Hosted by MUSC College of Pharmacy Dean Philip Hall, the entire ceremony was live, including a welcome from MUSC Provost Lisa Saladin, faculty presentations of student awards, a keynote address by 2020 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Kelly Hunt ’95, the hooding of the graduates, taking of the Oath of the Pharmacist, and remarks by representatives of the MUSC College of Pharmacy Alumni Association, the South Carolina Pharmacy Association, and the South Carolina Association of Health-system Pharmacists. The stream concluded with a video montage of photographic memories submitted by the graduates. 

The Class of 2020 was the first class to enter the independent MUSC College of Pharmacy following a decade of operation as the South Carolina College of Pharmacy. It was an historic moment for a college with 140 years of history. The class made history again when they graduated in MUSC’s first ever online hooding ceremony.

 “It is the resilience of the Class of 2020 that brings us together today,” Hall said in his opening remarks. “No other college at MUSC is trying to pull this off. The Class of 2020 asked us to try. We believe in their ability to make things work, no matter the obstacles, and we owe it to them to do the same. MUSC’s motto is ‘changing what’s possible.’ That’s exactly what we’re doing today.”

Watch the live stream recording