UCOL celebrates graduation next week

11 March 2014

UCOL celebrates graduation next week

UCOL Wairarapa will hold its annual Graduation Ceremony on Tuesday 18 March at the Masterton Town Hall with 155 students eligible to graduate with Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates.

At Tuesday’s ceremony, graduates will be awarded qualifications in Health Science, Nursing, Early Childhood Education & Care, Business Administration and Computing, Carpentry, Hairdressing, Beauty Services, Sport and Exercise, Automotive, Joinery, Contemporary Music, Cookery and Baking.

The largest group is those graduating with a Certificate in Introduction to Health Science with 26 graduates. The graduate numbers also include 18 Bachelor of Nursing, 24 Business and Administration, and 16 Early Childhood Education and Care graduates.

During the ceremony, the Lands Trust Masterton will be presented with a Special Award to recognise the Trust’s valued role in the community and its on-going support of UCOL.

Campus Manager Angela Hewitt says Graduation is an important time for staff to share with graduates, their families and friends in celebrating the rewards of so much hard work and dedication by students. It is also appropriate to acknowledge and thank the community groups, businesses and organisations who support UCOL Wairarapa, its staff and students.

“Our campus is fortunate with the amount of support it has in this community and this year we are thrilled that Lands Trust Masterton is being recognised for the important role it plays in contributing to the provision of local education across all sectors.”

Masterton’s first female Mayor Lyn Patterson is the Guest Speaker.

South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples will also attend and John Booth will represent the Carterton District Council.

The Ceremony starts at 1.30pm. At the conclusion, at approximately 3.00pm, the Graduates and UCOL staff members will form a procession through the streets of Masterton, back to the UCOL Wairarapa campus for light refreshments.

Background on Guest Speaker Lyn Patterson
Lyn Patterson was elected as the first female Mayor of Masterton in October 2013, having previously served two terms as a Councillor.

She is passionate about the community in which she lives, and believes strongly in building a strong, supportive, inclusive community which meets the aspirations of all its members.

Lyn has been involved in a number of community groups over many years and devotes her spare time to her family and reading avidly.

She has a Bachelor of Business Studies (Accountancy) from Massey University that she completed as an extramural student while her children were young.

Lyn’s professional background is in the public and not for profit sector and she is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.

During her career she has worked in local government, health and education prior to becoming Mayor.

ENDS

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