Print this pageExcellence at The UCY
DAY OF CELEBRATION FOR YEOVIL GRADUATES
The University Centre Yeovil (UCY) has celebrated another successful year with more students than ever graduating from an increasing range of university-level courses provided by the Centre.
Due to the large number of students graduating, two ceremonies had to be held for the third year in a row to accommodate all the students, staff, dignitaries and guests attending the Octagon Theatre on Friday 22nd October.
In all, 172 students were present at the ceremony, while a further 123 students graduated in absentia.
Students graduated in 35 different qualifications, including full Honours degrees, Foundation degrees, Higher Education and Professional Certificates and Diplomas in a wide range of subjects including Nursing, Computer Aided Design (Graphics and Packaging), Early Years, Sports Development and Coaching, Contemporary Fine Art, Business and Management, Computing and Internet Technology, Teaching, Accounting, Marketing and three different branches of Engineering.
A number of students also received special awards in recognition of their particular achievement and success. This year, five UCY Outstanding Achievement awards were presented to graduates, more than in any other year. The awards went to Nicola Spooner, who achieved a BA (Hons) History with English, Lyndsey Woolley, who completed a FdA in Contemporary Fine Art and Alistair Ross and Lydia Rowswell, who both graduated with BA (Hons) in Business and Management. HND Aerospace Engineering graduate Paul Tarbin also received a UCY Outstanding Achievement award, unfortunately could not accept his award in person as he is currently on active duty.
The annual Harry Livingstone Award for Management Excellence was presented jointly to Nicholas Flatt and Edward Harwood. The award recognises outstanding achievement by a Business and Management student and is presented in memory of Harry Livingstone by the Yeovil and District Branch of the Chartered Management Institute.
The Ted Wragg Award for Outstanding Trainees went to Wayne Clarke, who completed a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (Post Compulsory Education).
As well as the students, their friends and family, a number of dignitaries also attended to support the special day. They included Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr. Phil Chandler, the Chair of South Somerset District Council Cllr. Ian Martin and consort Cllr. Pat Martin, and Cllr. Terry Napper, on behalf of Somerset County Council. Principal James Hampton, Vice Principal Jayne Lewis and Director of the UCY Dr Richard Foyle as well as many other senior staff represented Yeovil College and the UCY. Yeovil College Fellows also attended, including Professor Bryan Brown, Scott Roy, Jacqui Dean and Rupert Cox. The Conferring Officers representing Bournemouth University and the University of the West of England were Professor Jim Roach and Professor Geoffrey Channon respectively. The University of Exeter, the final partner in the UCY initiative, was represented by Professor Jonathan Barry, Dean of the Faculty of Taught Programmes.
Professor Channon was also the guest speaker at the event. He said “It’s a great pleasure to share this very important occasion with the graduates and their family and friends. This is a celebration for graduates and the day on which years of study are formally recognised and rewarded. Like the other universities involved in the UCY, UWE believes in the power of partnerships and you can see today what institutions can achieve together. The UCY is important because of our principle commitment to widening access to Higher Education. We think it should be available to those who can most benefit from it. The UCY is an excellent example of putting that principle into practice. UCY students are provided with the knowledge, skills and attributes required by the knowledge economy because the UCY works with employers, understands local needs and benefits from firm roots in its locality. Unfortunately, you are graduating in a difficult economic time, but don’t get discouraged. Remember what you have achieved so far. You are in a strong position to take advantage of the opportunities available. These are times of change at the present and employers are looking for those who will change and improve their businesses. The UCY is an ambitious, creative, inspiring college and a friendly place to learn. You are the future and every one of you will make a difference as you touch the world with the knowledge you have gained.”
Yeovil College Principal James Hampton said “Since its inception, the UCY has been growing steadily and this year’s graduation is the largest to date. Looking at all of the students in their gowns with friends and family today, people can be in no doubt that Yeovil has a thriving university centre and a growing academic community. Yeovil can be proud of its university centre. There are many larger towns in the country which don’t have what we have built here in Yeovil, a dedicated centre focussed on providing individuals with the opportunity to reach for their educational goals, which complements an economy which needs employees with high level skills to continue growing in the future. I hope that all the graduates today will feel proud of being part of the UCY and will make their marks on the prosperity of the area.”
