Print this pageRecord Numbers Graduate From The UCY
2006 has marked yet another successful year for graduates from The University Centre Yeovil (UCY). The prestigious ceremony took place on Friday for a record number of successful students.
The ceremony, this year held at The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil, was chosen to form a closer partnership with the local community and welcomed over 300 students, honoured guests, parents and friends who joined the ceremony to celebrate the success of a broad range of full and part time students.
The University Centre Yeovil is a successful partnership between Yeovil College Bournemouth University and The University of Exeter. The partnership encourages students to study for University level qualifications accredited by Bournemouth and Exeter Universities without having to travel beyond Yeovil.
Students at The UCY now benefit from studying within a separate campus and newly refurbished building on Preston road in Yeovil, whilst accessing facilities at Yeovil College and Bournemouth University. The facility will also be further extended from January 2007 to accommodate growing student numbers.
The formal ceremony of award presentations was lead by Professor Rosemary Pope, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) of Bournemouth University; she said "Today's Award Ceremony marks another year of outstanding achievement by both students and staff. Many of those receiving Awards today have used their education to significantly improve their career opportunities, or to go on to further study in the chosen profession. The University is committed to extending access to Higher Education for our local communities, and I am delighted to be able to support our on-going commitment by attending the UCY ceremony today"
During the proceedings David Laws MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, was honoured and awarded the role of Fellow to the UCY. He said "I am delighted to have been given this honour today. I strongly believe that education and learning is the key to a successful future for our country. I will continue to support Yeovil College and the UCY and the development of their facilities into the future as many more students progress to achieve their goals."
Amongst the awards were full Honours Degrees in subjects such as BA Business and Management, BSc Nurse Practitioner and BA English and History.
Foundation degrees were
awarded in areas such as Theatre Practice, Digital Media Production, Early
Years, Business Information Technology, Business and Management and CAD -
Graphics and Packaging.
Many other awards were also presented including the Postgraduate Certificate of Education (Post Compulsory Education) awarded by The University of Exeter, plus a wide range of Higher National Diplomas (HND), Higher National Certificates (HNC) and other Professional awards such as The Charted Institute of Marketing (CIM) Professional Postgraduate Diploma, Management Studies, Accountancy Technician Awards (AAT) and Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).
The UCY Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Lara Williams, who achieved exceptional performance in gaining a First Class Honours Degrees in BA English and History. Lara's sister, Nadia also graduated from the same course.
The Harry Livingstone Award for Management Excellence was awarded to Simon Richardson, a student on the part-time BA Business and Management course.
The Business Plan Award was won by Foundation degree in Business & Management students Georgina Metcalfe, Hayley Owen and Will Pearse. The students worked together to write a comprehensive plan for a new business they named "Easy Days" providing packs for festivals. Chris Merrick from Nat West Bank and Jon Stocker from Milsted Langdon worked with the students and provided the prizes.
Mother and Daughter, Liz and AnneMarie McGoldrick had a double celebration as both graduated from the UCY this year. Liz graduated from the Foundation degree in Early Years and her daughter AnneMarie from the Association of Accounting Technicians course. Liz was delighted with their achievements and stated that the Early Years Foundation degree had been invaluable to her in her work and is helping to spread best practice in the childcare industry. Since completing the course Liz has secured work in Dorset as an advisor for SureStart, the organization that has helped support her childminding career for many years.
The Dr Eleanor Bond Prize for Primary Care was presented to Jason Hinrich, a student on the part-time BsC (Hons) Nurse Practitioner course. The prize is presented annually to a student in the University for a piece of course work or a project which makes a valuable contribution to the understanding either of the provision or the management of primary health care. Jason said "I was surprised and truly honoured to have been chosen for this award, this qualification will open new doors of opportunity for me in the healthcare industry."
James Hampton, Principal of Yeovil College, said "This has been another record year of student success, with more and more students choosing to stay in Somerset to continue their education and benefiting from the unique facilities and educational support that the UCY can offer. We look forward to celebrating with our graduates next year for the class of 2007".
