UCOL Wairarapa celebrates graduation

19 March 2012

UCOL Wairarapa celebrates graduation

UCOL Wairarapa holds its annual graduation ceremony this week, celebrating the achievements of 172 students eligible to graduate with degrees, diplomas and certificates.

The largest group is those graduating Bachelor of Nursing, with 28 graduates.

UCOL Deputy Chief Executive Academic Bonnie Dewart says graduation is a very important moment for students. “It represents their means to a rewarding future, with a rounded education, a qualification and excellent employment prospects. In these tight economic times, there is an even greater emphasis on preparing our graduates to make a successful entry into the workplace, and valuable contribution to this region.”

Campus Manager Angela Hewitt says graduation is an important time to acknowledge and thank the community groups, businesses and organisations who support UCOL Wairarapa, its staff and students.

“We have also given priority to maintaining and building up our community links – so apparent in the attendance at our graduation ceremonies of representatives of so many regional, community organisations.”

“Our carpentry students have helped build facilities at kindergartens, our exercise and sport students have organized activities in schools and students across so many of our programmes have had hands on experience in workplaces within a variety of industries relevant to their qualification,” says Angela. “Even before graduation, UCOL Wairarapa students are already a working force within their community. We are grateful to local businesses for making themselves available for work experience and contributing to student success.”

Three Wairarapa mayors, Ron Mark (Carterton), Gary Daniell (Masterton) and Adrienne Staples (South Wairarapa) have accepted invitations to attend.

This year’s ceremony includes the announcement of two recipients of UCOL Council Honours. The Honours recognise some of the many people who have made a particularly outstanding contribution to UCOL and to the wider community.

At Thursday’s ceremony in the Masterton Town Hall graduates will be capped with new qualifications in Health Science, Nursing, Early Childhood Education & Care, Business Administration and Computing, Carpentry, Hairdressing, Beauty Services, Sport and Exercise, Automotive, Joinery, Cookery and Baking.

Scholarships, supported by the Carterton District Council and the South Wairarapa District Council and other local organisations, will be presented at the ceremony.

The guest speaker is the Manager of Wairarapa Addiction Services, Mary Freeman. Last year Mrs. Freeman received a UCOL Institutional Medal for particularly meritorious services to UCOL, the wider community and to society. Mrs Freeman has been involved in the Advisory Committee for UCOL’s Bachelor of Nursing since the programme began in the Wairarapa.

Thursday’s ceremony starts at 1.30pm. At the conclusion, at approximately 3pm, the graduates and UCOL staff members will form a procession back to the UCOL Wairarapa campus for light refreshments.

When: 1.30 pm Thursday 22 March.
Where: Masterton Town Hall.

ENDS

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