On Wednesday 21st November the class of 2018 graduated from the School of Health Sciences in the third ceremony at the historical building of York Minster. Graduation is a formal occasion and graduands are required to wear the full academic dress (over their own clothes) to represent their Bachelor of Health Science degree. Staff also wear the full academic dress but the colours and style of their gowns may vary, as these represent the academic award that they have achieved and the university that they graduated from. At the beginning of the ceremony, staff processed down the aisle to the sound of the University’s Chamber Choir and the Minster’s organ.
One by one, our seventy-six graduates’ names were called out by Professor Stephen Britland, Head of School and they crossed the stage in front of friends and families to receive their award from Dr. John Sentamu, Archbishop of York and Chancellor and Karen Stanton, Vice Chancellor. York St John University has provided each graduate with a free, personalised StageClip of their special moment on stage. For example:
There were two honorary graduates at our ceremony: Helen Sharman CMG, OBE, FRSC, FIScT, Doctor of Science, and Anne Wafula Strike MBE, Doctor of Health Sciences, who both delivered eloquent and inspiring acceptance speeches. As the winner of the Vice Chancellor’s medal, School prize and programme prize, one of our Occupational Therapy graduates Rebecca Nicholls, gave the final speech on behalf of students present.
The University has produced this short youtube clip depicting the behind the scenes at York Minster as our class of 2018 became York St John University Graduates. Can you spot our new Occupational Therapists? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJEMqBQ11Bg.
Here are some of the “unofficial” photos taken on the day:
This post was written by Kerry Edwards and Karen Wilson