UTEP School of Pharmacy Welcomes New Class at the 2025 White Coat Ceremony
Celebrating the Next Generation: UTEP students mark a milestone as they join the Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2029
EL PASO, Texas (Aug. 23, 2025) – The University of Texas at El Paso’s School of Pharmacy welcomed 49 incoming students into the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Class of 2029 during the 2025 White Coat Ceremony on August 23 at Magoffin Auditorium.
The event is a time-honored tradition where the incoming class of Pharm.D. students receive their white coats and officially begin the program. It marks the beginning of a student’s journey in healthcare and a milestone that emphasizes each student’s promise to maintain the skills, knowledge and care needed to serve others.
With families, faculty and staff in attendance, students were welcomed by Founding Dean José O. Rivera, Pharm.D., as they donned their white coats for the first time and recited the Oath of a Pharmacist, symbolizing their commitment to professionalism, excellence and dedication to patient care.
“The White Coat Ceremony is more than a tradition, it’s a moment of pride and purpose,” said Dean Rivera. “This is the start of a meaningful journey where our students will be educated, supported and inspired as they become pharmacists. Together, we look forward to their impact in improving access to care and advancing patient outcomes.”
Incoming students who participated in the ceremony are eager to begin their journey toward becoming pharmacists, like first-year student Alize Bejarano. She completed a Pharmacy Technician program in high school and is excited to take the next step.
“As they placed that embroidered white coat on me, it was a sudden realization of how far I have come, said Bejarano. “Starting a graduate program at only 19, I feel extremely grateful for this opportunity and the path God has set me on. This white coat isn't just for me, it is a promise to my family that they will soon see their daughter, niece and cousin helping patients as a doctor.”
UTEP’s School of Pharmacy is dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare leaders equipped to serve the Paso del Norte region and beyond. For more information about the school and its programs, please visit www.utep.edu/pharmacy/
