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USC gears up for two graduation ceremonies
The University of the Sunshine Coast will be abuzz today (Wednesday 20 April) as it stages, for the first time, two Graduation ceremonies in one day.
Ceremonies will be held at 11am and 5pm in USC’s Sports Stadium, with crowds of about 1,500 people expected at each event.
The morning ceremony will be for graduands from the Faculty of Business and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, while the evening event will be for Faculty of Science, Health and Education graduands.
There will be plenty of pomp and ceremony, including academic processions, guest speakers, honorary awards and the presentation of medals to outstanding staff and graduands.
Almost 600 USC graduands will gown up for the two ceremonies at which more than 1,000 degrees and certificates will be conferred by Chancellor John Dobson OAM.
Among them will be USC’s first cohorts of graduands in Psychology, Paramedic Science, Social Work and the Executive MBA.
The morning ceremony at 11am will feature:
- Founding Vice-Chancellor Paul Thomas AM becoming USC’s first emeritus professor. Dr Thomas also will provide the Graduation Address;
- The presentation of Honorary Senior Fellow awards to Rotarian Bill Dethlefs, wildlife activist Jill Chamberlain OAM and horticulturalist Valerie Zwart OAM; and
- The presentation of medals to Chancellor’s Medallist William Douglas and to University medallists.
The evening ceremony at 5pm will feature:
- Presentation of an Honorary Doctorate to the Governor of Papua, His Excellency Barnabas Suebu. The Governor also will provide the Graduation Address;
- The presentation of Honorary Senior Fellow award to environmental educator Beverly Hand; and
- The presentation of medals to Chancellor’s Medallist Fiona Finnegan and to University medallists.
Other events on campus throughout the day will include:
- The Faculty of Business will hold a special morning tea for the first cohort of graduates from its new Executive MBA from 9.15-10.15am.
- The first cohort of Psychology graduates will gather for a special celebration at 1pm (after the 11am ceremony has finished).
- USC’s Golden Key Honour Society will stage a special Graduation celebration from 1pm to 2.30pm. The society will present certificates to its members who are graduating, along with the inaugural Paul Thomas Award.
The University has taken special steps to ensure no-one misses out on watching the graduation ceremony. The event will be video-streamed live on the USC website at <www.usc.edu.au>.
– Terry Walsh