News and events

Great graduation!

Published 2 August 2010

Summer graduation was hailed a success with 5,000 students collecting their degrees and a host of distinguished names receiving honorary awards at the Dome in Brighton.

The feedback from students, staff and guests was positive and Professor Julian Crampton, the university's Vice-Chancellor, returned the compliment in his speech. He told graduates: "I am continually struck by the wealth of talent and the sense of community which exists here at the university.

"You are part of this talented community and, as you move forward on to the next stage of your career, you will be important ambassadors for the university - and for the value of university education.

"We live in a society that is constantly changing, so that knowledge and skills will need to be regularly updated and refreshed. What I am sure you will have learned in Brighton is that you can’t stop learning and that this is the beginning of a journey, not the end."

Here are a few of the many success stories:

Sophie Riley threw herself into university life, becoming vice-president of the lacrosse club, a student ambassador at university events, helping organise graduation ceremonies, and working part-time with the Brighton Graduate Association.

Sophie, who gained a BA(Hons) in Primary Education, will start in September at St Bede's prep co-educational boarding and day school in Eastbourne, and will be teaching six-year-old children.

The university's Chelsea School had a record seven students who graduated with first-class honours after studying BA(Hons) Physical Education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Physical Education Principal Lecturer, Fiona Smith said: "For students on a physical education teacher training degree achieving a first is a real challenge... they were magnificent."

Charles Wharton, who collected a medical degree, is moving on to become a junior doctor at Portsmouth's Queen Alexandra Hospital and Surgeon Lieutenant in the Royal Navy.

And Roanna Simmons made headlines when she collected her sport coaching and development degree and walked her hearing dog Sami across the stage to receive her certificate.

Roanna, who played for the GB Deaf Women's football team, took Sami with her into all of her lectures.

Barbara Hulanicki, the legendary designer who founded the BIBA boutique with her husband, received an honorary Doctor of Letters, and Chris Adams, former Sussex cricket captain, was awarded an honorary Master of Science.

Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Kasim, group manager of Group Technology and Capability Management, Technical Services Division, of the Malaysian energy company Petronas, was awarded a Doctor of Technology.

Professor Sir Graeme Catto, former president of the General Medical Council, received a Doctor of Medicine, and Professor Lucy Orta was honoured with a Doctor of letters, for her work as a textiles artist.

Ed Sweeney, current chair of ACAS who has lectured at the Brighton Business School, received a Doctor of Laws, and Bob Cotton OBE, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, was awarded a Doctor of Science. Dr Etienne Wenger (Doctor of Science), a consultant, author and speaker, was honoured for helping organisations to develop their own communities.