University Centre Weston (UCW) students celebrated their graduation on Saturday (21st of September). Their hard work and determination paid off, with friends and family cheering their loved ones on.
After getting robed up in traditional gowns and mortarboard hats, the graduands got ready to start, surrounded by the friends they made at university. Walking in accompanied by a dixie band, the students made their way towards the official ceremony. After a day of rain, the sun finally shone through allowing the students in the third ceremony of the day to take part in a procession around the outside of the Winter Gardens and through the Italian Gardens. With supporters and onlookers cheering them on, it was a chance to parade around the building where many students made so many happy memories.
This year’s graduation took place in the grand ballroom of the Winter Gardens Pavilion, with graduates impressed by the scale of the event. Higher Education’s Vice Principal, Sadie Skellon was Master of Ceremonies and the College’s new Principal and CEO Pat Jones, presided over the ceremonies, with Deputy Principal, Alex Warner delivering the Weston College Group response. With a personal touch, the tutors of each course spoke about their class, reminiscing memories and emphasising how proud they were of each graduating student.
Each of the three ceremonies had a student vote of thanks. Nigel, a Nursing Associate degree apprentice graduate celebrated UCW saying: “University Centre Weston is a special institution and they are trailblazers, I can confidently say that all the accolades UCW has acquired are thoroughly well deserved.”
Ceremony two’s vote of thanks came from graduate Adam, who looked back on his time at UCW, saying: “I believe that University Centre Weston has been an open and welcoming environment to us all no matter what our journeys have looked like, through all the highs and lows that we have experienced the staff have been determined and committed to making it an enjoyable rewarding experience.”
Finally, ceremony three rounded out the positive energy with Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics for Production student Poppy saying: “Thank you, everyone, for sharing this incredible journey with me. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us all!”
Graduates and their guests were also treated to a fantastic performance by UCW’s newest cohort of performing arts students! They showed off the hard work they’ve put in so far, by performing an uplifting mash-up of Live Your Story and I Lived.
After the ceremonies concluded, the new graduates processed with the dixie band to the Royal Hotel for a drink’s reception. It was a chance to catch up with friends and family and reflect on their fantastic achievements and their graduation day.
During the third ceremony, a very special individual was recognised. Kam Stevens, an Honours Degree graduate in Lens-Based Media and Film and Media Arts for Production received the UCW Inspirational Journey Award 2024. This award recognised his achievements as someone who overcame the highest odds against them, to gain incredible success through hard work and perseverance.
After receiving the award, Kam said “I’m very lucky and privileged that UCW gave me the opportunity to change my life around when so many other establishments told me no. I think about where my life would be right now if UCW hadn’t given me that opportunity.
“Today I’m a proud father, I’m a role model, I’m a citizen of this country which is doing great things, and it’s all thanks to UCW for giving me that one opportunity, to change the narrative to my own story”.
Principal and CEO of the Weston College Group, Pat Jones commended the whole graduation day saying: “It is fantastic to see so many of our amazing UCW graduates enjoying such a well-deserved celebration! Their hard work and determination have led them to great successes, and I’m sure that this will lead to many fantastic careers using the connections gained while at UCW through our Career Excellence Hubs.
“I think what has been shown clearly at this year’s graduation, is that by attending UCW and drawing on the incredible support of UCW’s lecturers and support staff, they can achieve anything! Congratulations to the brilliant class of 2024!”
