Rebecca Garan, right, a Weirton native who graduated valedictorian from Madonna High School in the Class of 2017, took part in the white coat ceremony held at Huntington’s Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine on July 25. A third-year medical student, Garan was joined by Andrea Alimario, left, and Kelsey Crawford, both valedictorians of Madonna High School in the classes of 2019 and 2020, respectively. The annual ceremony is held to welcome future classes — with the women scheduled to graduate from Marshall in 2029. The trio shares in the journey of becoming physicians to help provide medical care to future patients.

— Contributed