May 13, 2022

VINCENNES, Ind. – Between graduating from Vincennes University and starting his pursuit of a neuroscience degree at IUPUI, Andrew Brumett is interning this summer at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. Brumett will work on projects related to breast and brain cancers.

During the internship, the VU 2022 graduate should have an opportunity to wear his new white lab coat with the VU logo on one lapel and his full name stitched on the other.

VU’s Chemistry Department honored Brumett and other recent graduates with a Chemical Sciences Lab Coat Ceremony. Faculty presented white lab coats to the students during the special event. It is a tradition that has become a rite of passage for VU graduates and marks a symbolic and significant step forward in their career pursuits.

“The students who have completed four semesters of chemistry have shown a great work ethic and perseverance,” Chemistry Department Chair Elizabeth Lowe said. “The white coat ceremony is a tradition in many medical and other professional schools, so we adopted it for our students many years ago. We hope they wear their VU coats with pride in their future lab classes and other settings.”

Among those honored at the ceremony were William Bowman (Sandborn, Indiana); Brumett (Washington, Indiana); Isaac Buchanan (Robinson, Illinois); Adler Crumrin (Palestine, Illinois); Anikki Noray (Arima, Trinidad and Tobago); and Ainsley Rodrick (Bruceville, Indiana).

“I am appreciative of the recognition that VU is giving to its students through this ceremony,” Rodrick said. “It is great to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and grit that my classmates and myself have worked towards for the last two years.”

The future is beaming bright for the graduates.

“It is great to see the successes of our students and how much they have grown with us over the past two years,” Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Aaron Bruck said. “We know that they will move on to amazing things in great careers.”

Rodrick, who earned a VU degree in Chemical Sciences, is headed to the Purdue University College of Pharmacy. Afterward, she expects to return to Knox County and begin a career in a pharmaceutical setting that specializes in patient counseling.

Crumrin, a Chemical Sciences graduate, is transferring to the sixth-ranked pharmacy school in the nation at the University of Kentucky.

Buchanan is also transferring to the University of Kentucky. The Engineering Science, Chemical Engineering graduate will pursue a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a minor in pharmacy.

“I want to work for a pharmaceutical company and be the one that makes medicines and monitors what all goes into the medicine.”

After majoring in neuroscience and minoring in chemistry, Brumett plans to enroll in medical school or pursue a physician-scientist training program. He graduated from VU with a degree in Biological, Biomedical Sciences.

“Prior to attending VU, I heard about the high standards the science department has for their students, so I knew I would leave VU as a strong student,” Brumett said.

See Photo Gallery of Chemical Sciences Lab Coat Ceremony

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