Treasured tokens: Symbols of PharmD achievement at Hooding
On Saturday, May 3, The Ohio State University Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2025 gathered for their long-awaited—and hard-earned—Doctoral Convocation and Hooding Ceremony.
Beneath the gray skies and persistent rain, graduates, faculty, staff, families and friends packed the Mershon Auditorium to mark this milestone with joy and celebration.
For many students, this day is about more than hoods and diplomas. It’s about the objects they carry onto the stage—small but powerful reminders of the challenges they have conquered, the people and places that shaped their paths, and the aspirations that fuel their next steps.
Whether a family heirloom, a memento from a late mentor or a keepsake from a defining moment in pharmacy school, these personal artifacts emblematize the experiences that led to a career in pharmacy.
Here’s how some of these graduates carried their stories at Hooding.
Amaal Ahmed
During her time at the College of Pharmacy, Amaal Ahmed, PharmD ’25, exemplified leadership as a student leader for the Muslim Pharmacy Student Association (MuPhSA) and the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP). She was also an active member of the Alpha Sigma chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma. Dr. Ahmed successfully matched with the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC) for a PGY1 residency, which begins this summer.
At Hooding, Dr. Ahmed proudly honored her Somaliland heritage. In the early 1990s, her mother fled civil war in Somaliland, leaving behind her home and loved ones in search of a better future. Woven into her graduation cords and tucked beneath her fresh PharmD hood was a stole bearing Somaliland’s flag. She also wore a bracelet—a cherished gift from her cousin—that she wears to all major events as a symbol of her cultural connection.
My late father carried deep pride in our homeland, and that pride lives on through me. This bracelet allows me to represent our country on graduation day and honor their strength, our culture and the place we call home.
I’m proud to be the first in my family to earn a doctorate. After graduation and before starting residency, I’m excited to visit Somaliland and reunite with my family.
Christian Hu
Christian Hu, PharmD ’25, has matched into the PGY1 residency program at Baptist Hospital of Miami, set to begin this summer. At Hooding, Dr. Hu honored his late grandfather by wearing a gold ring passed down to him by his grandmother after his grandfather’s passing in 2021. The ring bears the name of his grandfather’s company, Bilkays.
My grandfather was a very special person in my life who played a big role in helping shape me into the person that I am today. The significance of having this item with me for this major milestone is that even though he unfortunately can’t be here for the Hooding Ceremony in person, I know he is still here with me in spirit.
Tara Rikabi
Tara Rikabi, PharmD ’25, was a dedicated and engaged member of her college community, serving as a student leader for SSHP and the Xi Chapter of the Phi Delta Chi pharmaceutical fraternity. Her leadership and commitment were recognized when she received the Student Leadership Award from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. As a Palestinian American, Dr. Rikabi celebrated her heritage by incorporating a kuffiyeh into her doctoral regalia, layering it with her graduation cords and stoles—a meaningful tribute to her history and culture.
The kuffiyeh, a scarf symbolizing Palestinian identity and resistance, originated in Iraq and has become a powerful emblem of the Palestinian movement for freedom, as well as other movements across Arab nations. Typically black and white, its expressive patterns—such as olive leaves and fishnet designs—represent essential aspects of Palestinian land and identity, carrying deep significance for those in Palestine and the diaspora.
As pharmacists, our level of care is not determined by a patient’s culture or background, and I want to pay tribute to the frontline health care workers risking their lives in Palestine. Pharmacy is a field of healing and serving the marginalized communities in which we live.
In this highly professional field, it is an honor to wear the kuffiyeh as a reminder of the kind of pharmacists that we want to be and as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Leah Jones
As a student, Leah Jones, PharmD ’25, was involved in the Ohio State chapter of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SSHP), a member of the Xi Chapter of the Kappa Psi pharmaceutical fraternity, and a student intern for the Wexner Project Match. At Hooding, Dr. Jones received the Stephen W. Birdwell Student Award for leadership, service and community engagement, chosen for the honor by her peers.
During her P3 year, Dr. Jones lost her father, Jim, and carried his memory with her to this year’s Hooding Ceremony. She wore his necklace and a tassel with his photo, while her brother, celebrating his own undergraduate commencement that weekend, wore a matching tassel. She also wore her father’s gold chain, a gift he received from his parents when he graduated in 1992. It held meaning for him, especially after he lost both of his parents in 1999, the year she was born.
Losing my dad so suddenly last March to pancreatic cancer shattered a part of me. The thought of graduating without him brought overwhelming grief. He was supposed to be here, cheering the loudest and hugging me the tightest. Wearing this necklace is like carrying a piece of my father with me.
It’s more than jewelry. It’s a legacy of love and perseverance, passed down from one generation to the next. It’s a tangible connection to his love, strength and unwavering support. It’s how I celebrate this achievement with him still by my side. It turns my sorrow into strength. Every time I feel its weight on my chest, I’m reminded that his spirit is never far from me.