KGI Celebrates Classes of 2020 and 2021 Graduates During Commencement Ceremonies

May 15, 2021

On Saturday, May 15 in Claremont, CA, Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) hosted two commencement ceremonies to honor graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021. View photos.

Graduates from programs in the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences (Riggs School) were honored during a ceremony at 10 a.m., while graduates from programs in the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (SPHS) were honored at 2 p.m. Both ceremonies featured in-person attendees and a virtual component for those that could not be there in person.

Jim Widergren, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, began both ceremonies with a welcome address.

“We are so happy to be here to celebrate our graduates, especially given all that has transpired over the last 14 months,” Widergren said.

“Our graduates have persevered through the global pandemic, seamlessly shifting to online learning while continuing research activities, team projects, and career networking.”

Following the national anthem, sung by student Carolyn Saba, and invocation from Father Joe Fenton of The Claremont Colleges’ Chaplains Office, KGI Student Government President of 2020 Nika Kar spoke virtually, followed by an in-person address from Student Government President of 2021 Erik Wehse.

“To our professors, faculty, and staff at KGI, we all owe our successes to your dedication, passion, and genuine desire to help us advance our careers,” said Kar.

“A year and a half ago, the world as we knew it changed,” Wehse said. “We could no longer operate the way we used to. We had to change our ways. The KGI community took this opportunity to change for the better.”

Following the student government speeches, alumni Thomas Treddenick, MBS ’10, shared his wisdom with the graduates.

“If I have one thing to impress upon you today, it is to follow your passion without fear or regrets,” Treddenick said. “You truly have a passion for the life and health sciences but don’t get bogged down in doing something that you don’t like.”

“The beauty of KGI is that it gives you such a well-rounded education.”

KGI’s keynote speaker, Dr. Bill Gruber, Pfizer’s Senior Vice President of Vaccine Clinical Research and Development, addressed the graduates virtually.

“There is a growing deficit of trained vaccinologists, particularly in translational health,” said Gruber.

“With today’s recognition of your achievements, you are perfectly positioned to fill the gap and ride the crest of the coming wave of healthcare, life sciences, pharmacy, genetics, engineering, and business.”

Dr. Martin Zdanowicz, KGI’s Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Henry E Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences, presented the graduating classes.

In the Riggs School ceremony, graduates were honored from the following programs:

In the SPHS ceremony, graduates were honored from the following programs:

Also, during the SPHS ceremony, KGI recognized the efforts of the first two graduating classes from the genetics programs. Dr. Barbara Fortini and Ashley Mills applauded the founding cohorts and wished them success on their achievements. Dr. Gail Orum then led the pharmacy students in the recitation of the Oath of a Pharmacist.

Directed by President Sheldon Schuster, the graduating students moved their tassels from their right to the left to signify their transition from students to alumni of KGI.

“Today is a special time of celebration,” said Schuster.

“This commencement marks the beginning of your careers in a vastly changing world.”

After the closing remarks, the graduates and their guests attended reception ceremonies hosted on campus.

Watch: Riggs School Ceremony

Please note: Not all Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 graduates are reflected in this video. Actual degree completion is dependent on all program requirements being met.

Watch: SPHS Ceremony

Please note: Not all Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 graduates are reflected in this video. Actual degree completion is dependent on all program requirements being met.

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