Graduation dreams

The graduation was held in the town centre for the very first time, in two of its most well-known buildings – the Town Hall and the Royal Spa Centre. The Town Hall bustled with life as students donned their gowns and met up with old friends from college. Equine graduands also met other familiar faces as horses Jolie and Midget from the Moreton Morrell centre joined them for photos in Jephson Gardens. There was a grand procession to the Royal Spa Centre with college Principal, Mariane Cavalli, vice principals, fellows, tutors, university and council representatives, the chairman of Warwick District Council, local mayors and guest speaker Dr Mick Starcevich joining students for their graduation ceremony.

Graduands received a range of qualifications at Friday’s event including foundation degrees, HNDs, HNCs and honours degrees, in subjects as diverse as motorsport engineering, teaching, digital film and video, early years and events management.

Mariane Cavalli, who joined the college in September, presented the students with their awards. Mariane said: “I was so thrilled to be at my very first graduation ceremony for the college. The students and their tutors have all worked incredibly hard and thoroughly deserve their awards. Studying higher education at college provides a wide range of academic, vocational and work-based qualifications, a first class option for those keen to study locally, or for whom university might not be a preferred option.”

Shirley Myatt, received her Foundation Degree in Horticulture. She said: “the graduation was a great way to celebrate my achievements and I enjoyed catching up with friends from my course – we all worked so hard together and it was lovely for us to receive our awards.

“I previously worked in graphic design and was a book illustrator for years, before computer graphic design started to take over. I have always been passionate about plants and decided to combine this interest with my design skills to study garden design. I now work part time for a garden design and landscape company and I am setting up my own garden design business.”

Also receiving an award was Ioan Morgan, former Principal of Warwickshire College, who was presented with an Honorary Fellowship by Chair of Governors, Ian Pickford.

Ian said: "It was with great pleasure that I awarded our former Principal, Ioan Morgan, with an honorary fellowship of Warwickshire College. Ioan and I have worked together closely over the years and his commitment to, and understanding of, college education is outstanding. We are delighted that he will continue to be involved with the college as a fellow and hope that this will be as much of a pleasure for him as it will be for us."

Guest of Honour and speaker at the event was Dr Mick Starcevich, President of Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, USA. The two colleges have been working together to promote international understanding, through student and staff exchange programmes.