Higher Education Graduation 2022 saw family, friends, staff and members of the college’s corporation all came together to share in the success of this year’s graduates. Almost three hundred people gathered on Saturday 26th November to formally recognise the hard work and commitment of learners graduating in over 25 programmes of study.
David Whatton Chair of the College’s Corporation led the celebrations conferring HNC, HND and raft of professional qualifications on learners in disciplines as diverse as HNC Computing and HND Animal Management.
Neil Thomas Chief Executive Officer and Principal of Dudley College congratulated learners for staying the course; recognising many of them persevered with their studies throughout the uncertainty of Covid. Amongst them were a number of college staff who completed their studies in Teaching and Management, whilst also delivering lessons online to their own students.
A particularly poignant moment in the ceremony came when a posthumous teaching award was presented by Neil, to Gemma and Lucy the wife and daughter of colleague Jeremy Pettifor. Jeremy achieved his ambition of qualifying as a tutor shortly before his tragically early death, this year. Conveying their delight at Jeremy’s memory being honoured in this way, Gemma and Lucy shared their pride in his achievement with everyone present.
A sincere vote of thanks was given on behalf of all students by Level 4 Mechanical Engineering graduate Noah Megyesi- Schwartz, who admitted he had given his own parents some grey hairs during the last two years, as he struggled to meet the demanding workload higher education entails. But praised the support of tutors who had been instrumental in providing both the support and challenge he needed.
Fittingly, Georgina Barnard, Managing Director of the Black Country and Marches Institute of Technology conducted the ceremony as the particular contributions of the Universities of Wolverhampton and Worcester, the IoT’s university partners:, was recognised for helping to expand HE opportunities locally and providing pathways to final degree programmes.
On behalf of every one in attendance Neil Thomas thanked all of the staff who made this a remarkable event for all those involved. The day ran like clockwork, and from the kind words guests shared with Neil, the day was regarded as a landmark in the lives of both the graduates and their families, one which will be remembered for many years to come.
Photographs from the day can be downloaded and shared from from our Higher Awards Ceremony 2022 Flickr album.