Newsroom

Fourth cohort of physician assistant students awarded white coats during ceremony

Posted April 15, 2025   Print
Physician Assistant whitecoat story 2025

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thirty-nine students in Thiel College’s fourth cohort of Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies received their white coats as part of the program’s White Coat Ceremony on Friday, April 11 in Bly Hall of the Daniel & Dorothy Spence Academic Center on campus.

The traditional use of white coats in medical professions began around the start of the 20th century. Before that, doctors primarily wore black coats. The switch to white coats promoted a symbol of safety, but also a sense of compassion and honor in the relationship between patients and medical professionals. Now, when a medical provider wears a white coat, it shows they are trustworthy because they have the necessary training and expertise to provide medical care and advice. The white coats these students receive represent their completion of the first half of their studies in the 27-month P.A. program at the College.

The following students received their white coats during Friday’s ceremony:

  • Caitlin Augustine M.S.’26, of Cranberry Township, Pa.
  • Abigail Bernhardt M.S.’26, of North Ridgeville, Ohio
  • Patima Blagmon M.S.’26, of Clinton, Md.
  • Benjamin Byers M.S.’26, of Grove City, Pa.
  • Ashley Chambers M.S.’26, of Warren, Ohio
  • Peyton Eckenrode M.S.’26, of York Haven, Pa.
  • Gabrielle Geinzer M.S.’26, of Pittsburgh, Pa.
  • Sarah Ghazi M.S.’26, of Galena, Ohio
  • Ryan Harcourt ’25 M.S.’26, of Hermitage, Pa.
  • Chloe Herrmann M.S.’26, of Meadville, Pa.
  • Mustafa Hosseini M.S.’26, of Carmichael, Calif.
  • Leah Jensen M.S.’26, of Harrisburg, Pa.
  • Grace Jones ’25 M.S.’26, of Clarks Mills, Pa.
  • Hannah Jones ’24 M.S.’26, of Clarks Mills, Pa.
  • Alexander Kampo M.S.’26, of Pittsburgh, Pa.
  • Jasmine Le M.S.’26, of Columbia, S.C.
  • Charlotte Lister M.S.’26, of New Haven, Conn.
  • Alycia Lynch M.S.’26, of West Mifflin, Pa.
  • Lauren McCleary M.S.’26, of Corsica, Pa.
  • Connor McInnis ’25 M.S.’26, of Southington, Conn.
  • Renee Meuschke M.S.’26, of Murrysville, Pa.
  • Randall Miller ’25 M.S.’26, of Mineral Ridge, Ohio
  • Hanna Mueller M.S.’26, of Hermitage, Pa.
  • Carli Orcutt M.S.’26, of Marana, Ariz.
  • Anna Paul ’25 M.S.’26, of Zelienople, Pa.
  • Ruben Perez M.S.’26, of Hobe Sound, Fla.
  • Safa Piracha M.S.’26, of Herndon, Va.
  • Ashlynn Randolph M.S.’26, of Portersville, Pa.
  • Alyssa Rocha M.S.’26, of Allston, Maine
  • Karina Rogers M.S.’26, of Clark, Pa.
  • Julianna Sloan ’25 M.S.’26, of Kingsville, Ohio
  • Jacob Smith M.S.’26, of Portville, N.Y.
  • Steven Smith M.S.’26, of Smyma, Del.
  • Alexandra Steele M.S.’26, of New Castle, Pa.
  • Devin Thomas M.S.’26, of Ramey, Pa.
  • Lydia Webb M.S.’26, of West Middlesex, Pa.
  • Nazifa Yar M.S.’26, of Murphy, Texas
  • Gabrielle Younes M.S.’26, of Bethlehem, Pa.
  • Victoria Young ’22 M.S.’26, of New Castle, Pa.

Related Links

Related Stories

Office of Admission

    Media Contact

    Dominick DiRienzo M.A.’22
    Director of Communications and Marketing

     ddirienzo@thiel.edu
     724-589-2188

    BROWSE BY CATEGORY

    Academics ( 969 )
    Admission ( 283 )
    Alumni ( 410 )
    Athletics ( 206 )
    College Advancement ( 305 )
    Community ( 540 )
    Events ( 407 )
    Faculty & Staff ( 740 )
    In The News ( 43 )
    Performing Arts ( 153 )
    Students ( 1026 )

    BROWSE BY YEAR

    2026 (45)
    2025 (174)
    2024 (168)
    2023 (152)
    2022 (150)
    2021 (141)
    2020 (146)
    2019 (123)
    2018 (157)
    2017 (129)
    2016 (119)
    2015 (110)
    2014 (52)
    2013 (33)
    2012 (41)

    Thiel College Shield

    Thiel College
    75 College Ave
    Greenville, PA 16125
    1-800-248-4435