Nearly 100 students, staff, parents, and friends attended San Diego Job Corps’ first White Coat and Pinning Ceremony on March 30, 2012.  The ceremony honored the center’s first Pharmacy Technician class.

“It’s very rewarding to see what our Pharmacy Technician students are accomplishing,” advised Roberto Hinojosa, San Diego Job Corps’ Career Technical Training Manager.  “It’s crucial that we provide our students training in the areas which will afford them the best career opportunities when they graduate. During the past few years we’ve expanded the opportunities in our Health Care Career Pathway by expanding our Certified Nursing Assistant program and adding the Pharmacy Tech program. Seventeen students enrolled in the class in November 2011 and all seventeen will be graduating soon. It’s certainly a tribute to the student and their instructor Apollos Agbuya.”

Job Corps Pharmacy Technician instructor Apollos Agbuya has been a Clinical Pharmacy Technician since 2004.  “I’ve taught this class on the college level for five years,” he stated, “and have certainly enjoyed teaching at Job Corps.  It is not an easy course of study, but the students have been serious and determined, and their dedication is paying off.  They are obtaining their classroom certification today and will be completing 160 hours of clinical work to become California State Pharmacy Technicians.  Our graduates will have wonderful opportunities for rewarding careers in the Health Care field.”

During the ceremony, which was emotional at times, family and friends of the Pharmacy Technician students praised Job Corps for giving the students the opportunity to be successful, and also praised their instructor and the students for their accomplishments.  Pharmacy Tech students also spoke about their experience at Job Corps, praised Mr. Agbuya, and expressed their excitement for their future careers.

The Pharmacy Tech students received their white coats and pins during the ceremony and took the Oath of the Pharmacy Technician and recited the Profession and Discipline of Pharmacy pledge.  The pledge ended with “From this day forward, I am a professional, and may my thoughts, words, and deeds forever proclaim this fact to the society I pledge to serve.”

San Diego Job Corps’ next class of 20 Pharmacy Technician students begins April 16th.