Higher Education Success Celebrated at Graduation Ceremony

Rotherham College celebrated the achievements of its higher education students at the fifth annual Higher Education Graduation Ceremony on Saturday 24th September.
The ceremony, which took place at the iconic Rotherham Minster, commemorated the success of graduates from the College’s university-level courses. The congregation was full of proud family and friends, ready to watch graduates collect their certificates and join in with the euphoric celebrations.

Now a College tradition, a procession of staff and VIP’s marked the opening of the ceremony by making their way from the College’s Town Centre Campus through Rotherham Town Centre to the Minster.
Led by the Concord Drum & Bugle Corps, the spectacle had shoppers and passers-by delving for their cameras and phones to capture the sea of mortarboards and graduation gowns.
Upon the arrival of the procession at the ceremony, Chief Executive of RNN Group, John Connolly, provided a welcoming address and praised the hard work and commitment of the graduates.
John noted that this was also a landmark year for the College, with the highest number of graduates so far. He said that he hoped this number would continue to rise, as Rotherham College maintains its dedication in nurturing the dreams and ambitions of its students. Guests and graduates also had the chance to hear from guest speaker Ian Goodall.

Ian is the Owner and Managing Director of the Rotherham based company Aardvark Swift. A niche recruitment agency, specialising in the video games industry, supplying local clients like Sumo Digital/Team 17 right up to international giants such as Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. Ian also works as a STEM Ambassador at career events and works locally to help young talented people achieve their full potential.

Ian described his own experience of studying in Rotherham, and how it was a chance interview for a job he hadn’t originally considered that led him to become a successful business owner. He encouraged the students to take every opportunity they are offered, and to be proud of their achievements so far.

After the ceremony, students posed for photographs outside the picturesque surroundings of the Minster and nearby gardens, before returning to the College campus where canapés were served by Rotherham College catering students.

If the success of our cohort of 2016 graduates has inspired you to take the first steps in achieving your university degree, then visit: www.rotherham.ac.uk/highereducation