Higher Education students at Wiltshire College & University Centre were honoured at a special Graduation Ceremony at Salisbury Cathedral on Friday 25th October.
In total, around 100 students who have recently completed university-level, degree-level, higher apprenticeship programmes and higher-level professional qualifications at WCUC graduated surrounded by their families and friends in the spectacular setting offered by the Cathedral.
Ahead of the ceremony, graduates took part in the traditional procession through the city as they paraded from Salisbury Playhouse to the Cathedral grounds.
The ceremony opened with a welcome address from WCUC Principal & CEO Iain Hatt, while Catherine Roper, Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, served as the guest speaker.
Representatives from the Royal Navy were also in attendance to celebrate serving members achieving the Chartered Management Institute Level 7 NVQ Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.
After the ceremony, graduates had time to celebrate with family and friends within the grounds of the Cathedral.
WCUC Principal & CEO Iain Hatt said: “It was a pleasure and privilege to be able to celebrate those students who completed Higher Education programmes with us this year at our annual Graduation ceremony. The stunning surroundings offered by Salisbury Cathedral mean this is always a day to remember for everyone involved.
“The achievements celebrated at Graduation are an important milestone for students – they will open doors to opportunities both now and in the future. All students should rightly feel proud of their success having shown such commitment to their education over the last few years.
“I would like to thank all WCUC staff and the many employers for the help and support they have given our graduates during their studies, and I wish all those who graduated every success in the future.”
WCUC offers a wide variety of Higher Education courses across its campuses around the county through its University Centre, including a number validated by Bournemouth University and Oxford Brooks University.
Will Killick studied the BEng (Hons) Motorsport Technology degree and said: “It really was a day to remember. The course was really good, and I made lots of great memories made and had lots of enjoyable times. I am already doing some freelance work within motorsport, and I have started a role at AB Dynamics, a company in Wiltshire who work in development and engineering in the automotive industry.”
Pollyanna Zollo graduated from the HND Crime and Criminal Justice programme and has now chosen to continue her studies to achieve a full degree. She said: “I loved the day. It was great fun and so nice to see everyone again as some people I haven’t seen since we finished our course at the start of the summer. I really enjoyed the course, and I have moved onto Hertfordshire University to do a one-year top-up programme as my dream is to be a Detective Constable in the police.”
Shareena Broderick started at WCUC as a post-16 school leaver and leaves as a graduate from the HND Animal Management programme. She said: “It was a really nice day and Salisbury Cathedral is such a lovely setting. There were only a few of us from our course who could make it, but it was great to see them all again and lovely to see our lecturer too. I first started at the college on the Applied Science Level 3 course. I did two years when I left school and then had a gap year before coming back to do a HE course. It is a really good place to study.”
For more information on WCUC’s Higher Education provision, visit www.wiltshire.ac.uk/university-centre.
