Congratulations and welcome to the latest group of UNE alumni, who have just swelled our ranks following summer graduations.
The ceremonies in early December included some 800 graduands, some of whom had been unable to graduate in person due to COVID-19 restrictions, so there was plenty to celebrate as we wrapped up another busy year. In fact, we’ve welcomed an estimated 2,400 graduates to our Armidale campus, along with their guests, throughout graduation ceremonies in 2022.
These significant milestones are a source of individual and family pride but also inject vital dollars into the New England economy, according to UNE Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Evans.
“I am proud that once again the University is able to host these significant events, which not only fill the whole region’s hotels and restaurants but create a wonderful sense of place and community for our students, many of whom completed the majority of their degree online,” Professor Evans said.
“Armidale is such an important place to our students no matter where they study, and visiting Armidale for graduation on the lawns of historic Booloominbah is an absolute highlight for them as they celebrate the end of their studies.”
The summer graduates included Caitlin Herbert, the third generation in her family to receive Masters qualifications from UNE, following in the footsteps of her mother Tess Herbert (Master of Letters) and grandfather Patrick Flynn (Master of Education). Fortunately, the floodwaters that had engulfed her community of Eugowra had subsided sufficiently for Caitlin and her family to travel to Armidale, but they face years of recovery.
“Being able to get to Armidale during such a devastating time for our community was a great silver lining to reward the hours put in over the past three years,” said Caitlin, who graduated with a Master of Science in Agriculture and was due to marry fiancé Ed Thomas on one of the flooded family properties on New Year’s Eve – after completing the harvest and a massive clean-up operation. Read her story here.
Jamie (right) and Matthew Mitton, Jamie graduated with a Bachelor of Media and Communications and Matthew graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture.
Also joining us were twins Jamie and Matthew Mitton. Jamie graduated with a Bachelor of Media and Communications, while her brother Matthew graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture, proving that study success runs in the family.
And we were thrilled to welcome back inspiring Wiradjuri woman, Professor in Nursing, internationally recognised mental health nurse and alumna Rhonda Wilson, who gave the occasional address to Medicine and Health graduands.
She applauded them for achieving “incredible things during extraordinary times” and their ability to “pivot, adjust, adapt and succeed”. Rhonda also scoped the future health landscape.
“Digital technologies are game-changers of health care,” Rhonda said. “Be ready to adopt innovation. Nothing stays the same and you will need new solutions. The pace of change is rapid but it is also important to remember that innovation is borne of pause. Take time to reflect and to think and to seek out trustworthy thought leaders …”
Rhonda also urged the newly minted health professionals to be careful who they follow. “There is a new wave of leadership rising and it is collaborative. It requires that leaders are comfortable with transparency, collaboration and kindness. Be that leader … and create environments in which many can thrive.”
Rhonda concluded by offering advice applicable to any profession. “Be a champion of respect, … diversity and inclusion … a champion of innovation, mental health … and change agents.”
Congratulations to all our 2022 graduates and best wishes in your future endeavours. You join a long line of powerful change makers.
