It rained on their parade
Almost 2000 students celebrated successfully completing their Victoria University studies at last week’s graduation ceremonies, but some only got to partake in half of graduation tradition.
With the parade cancelled on Wednesday, only half of the graduates got their chance to strut their stuff down Wellington streets in their Harry Potter robes.
Florists and restauranteurs will be able to take a breather now the ceremonies to honour 32 PhD students and hand out 2100 degrees, diplomas and certificates are over.
Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Pat Walsh says graduation is worth celebrating, as getting a degree from Victoria is the result of hard work and dedication.
“Victoria has an established reputation both in New Zealand and internationally for academic excellence and the calibre of its research and postgraduate study―getting a degree is not just a matter of turning up to class.”
VUWSA President Max Hardy was there to watch all of the graduates walk across the Michael Fowler Centre stage.
“It was fantastic to celebrate the successes of so many VUWSA members.
“It was particularly nice to be there to celebrate the graduation of two members of the VUWSA exec and two Salient staff.”
Alongside the bat-cape enrobed students, Victoria handed out two Honorary Doctorates, both to Professors who happen to be working at Australia National University.
Professor Anthony Reid is an eminent academic and writer on Southeast Asia, most famous for his Southeast Asia in the Age of Commerce.
Since graduating from Victoria University with a PhD in Organic Chemistry in 1979, Honorary Doctorate recipient Professor Martin Banwell has made influential contributions to the discipline, and is one of Australasia’s most highly regarded chemists.
His main area of research is the synthesis of biologically active organic molecules of relevance to medicine.
Salient will be including an interview with Banwell in next week’s issue.