On Tuesday 27 June, UTS College hosted its first live graduation ceremony since 2019. A blockbuster event at the UTS Great Hall celebrated everyone who completed studies in semesters one, two, and three of 2022. Presentations included graduate certificates, diplomas, UTS Foundation Studies awards, Deans Merit and Outstanding Graduate prizes, and the Diane Leckie Memorial Scholarship.
A very special group of graduates
In her opening address, Dean of Studies, Sally Payne, congratulated a ‘very special group of graduates’. She said, “For you to successfully complete this with all the changes of the last three years is a great thing. You’ve been flexible, adaptable, and able to quickly respond to changes. They’re great skills to have as you move into further studies and into your careers.”
The ceremony also included a warm welcome from Auntie Glendra Stubbs, UTS Elder-in-Residence, and a moving solo didgeridoo performance by Matthew Doyle, Elder-in-Residence at NIDA.
Student ambassadors gowned up and ready
Our student ambassadors, Chriselyn, Julia, Lucky, and Raiat were in the thick of it all, gowned up and ready for their short walk across the stage. We asked them how it felt to be part of our first living, breathing ceremony since the pandemic.
Julia said, “I was surprised by the overwhelming feeling of camaraderie. My peers’ collective joy and support was heartwarming. It reminded me of the strong bonds we formed.” Seeing his friends’ excitement meant a lot to Lucky too. “I was surprised that I recognised the majority of grads,” he says. “When they yelled, ‘Lucky! Are you graduating too?’ I was genuinely surprised they recognised me when some only knew me as a student ambassador or stranger from social media.”
Joy, excitement, and anxiety
For Chriselyn, the joy and excitement was tempered with a touch of anxiety. She says, “It’s been a dream of mine to wear the cap and gown, but I worried that the cap might slip down – it’s surprisingly heavy – or that I’d slip on my heels when I walked on the stage.” Raiat enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people. “I was expecting others from my diploma group, but I had the chance to meet alumni who’d graduated before me,” he says. “Talking to them, especially those in the same major as me, gave me insight into studying at UTS. For me, graduating turned into a networking event.”
Julia vividly remembers the moment her name was called. She says, “It was a proud moment, knowing that my hard work and dedication had paid off. My family couldn’t make it, and my supportive friends made the moment special.” Chriselyn was also thinking of family who couldn’t be there. “It meant a lot to know that my parents had set up a livestream for my grandparents to watch from overseas,” she says.
Lucky also found the moment quite emotional. He says, “I had imagined wearing the cap and gown and it finally came true. It was like a dream, and I felt profound emotion seeing parents’ big smiles as they watched their child succeed.” Raiat had similar feelings. “Seeing my friends again, dressed in academic gowns and walking to the stage reminded me of the days we went to class together. It made me emotional,” he says. “Even though we may not see each other as often now, I felt closer to them.”
The power to inspire change
After all the awards were presented, there were addresses from Outstanding Graduate prize winners Phoebe Thet and Vanvatey Leav, and alumna Grace Borger. Jin Liu from Activate UTS spoke about the opportunities presented by the many clubs at UTS and the UTS alumni community. “As UTS College alumni, you have the power to inspire change,” he said.
In her closing remarks, Sally Payne also encouraged the new graduates to be change makers, quoting blues legend BB King. “He said, ‘education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.’ Use your education well to make the world a better place,” she said. The graduates then followed the academic procession exiting the hall. To everyone’s relief, Chriselyn’s cap stayed firmly in place.
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