A Tradition of Promise: 2025 White Coat Ceremony Inspires Future Healthcare Leaders

At Sligh Middle Magnet School and Dunbar Elementary Magnet School, the halls were filled with excitement, pride, and purpose as students participated in the 2025 White Coat Ceremony, an annual tradition that has become a cherished milestone for young scholars with dreams of healing, helping, and leading in healthcare.

In partnership with B.E.S.T. (Brain Expansions Scholastic Training), this ceremony goes far beyond the symbolic donning of a white coat. It’s a celebration of potential, a moment where students stand a little taller as they imagine themselves as future doctors, nurses, pharmacists, researchers, and more.

At these schools, where STEM is not just part of the curriculum but part of the culture, the White Coat Ceremony serves as a powerful reminder: representation matters, and the journey to a medical career can start early - with support, inspiration, and belief.

As students slipped on their crisp white coats, smiles lit up the room, and eyes sparkled with possibility. Families, educators, and community leaders applauded not just the moment, but the meaning behind it. These coats represent commitment, curiosity, and courage. They are reminders that the path to purpose begins now.

Each year, this partnership between B.E.S.T. and Tampa’s magnet schools plants seeds of hope and aspiration. We are honored to play a part in building a pipeline of diverse, compassionate, and capable future healthcare professionals who will one day serve our communities with skill and empathy.

Here’s to our future white coat wearers—may your journey be bold, bright, and full of heart.