December 16, 2015

Engineering and Business Graduates Kick-off Summer 2015 Ceremonies

More than 400 students donned caps and gowns in the first day of summer graduation ceremonies.

The first day of summer graduations began today (Wednesday 16 December), with 413 students including 24 PhD students celebrating after years of hard work. They were among a total of more than 1000 graduates acknowledged for the achievements over the week. 

This year’s graduations not only celebrate the start of the journey of those who will go on to leave a mark on the world, it also paid tribute to those who have contributed to the development of UOW as a world-class teaching and research university during the past 40 years as an independent institution.

Among the day's notable graduates were students who have helped improve cancer treatments, push for gender balance in engineering, and others who embody a commitment to lifelong learning.

Philip Lavers completed his physics PhD at the age of 76, finally completing a quest to “learn a bit more” about a subject he first studied 60 years prior. After a couple of 'false starts' including having his thesis rejected at first attempt, he is finishing his PhD and hopes to continue his ambition to delve deeper into fundamental physics.

More than 400 students from the faculties of business and engineering donned caps and gowns for the Summer graduation ceremonies.

Kate Menzies, a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Scholars) graduate from Condobolin in central west NSW, chose engineering after initially wanting to study physiotherapy. She’s been helping shift the gender balance in a male-dominated industry through her work as a member and President of the UOW Women in Engineering Society.

"It's beyond exciting to think that I am qualified to go out and do some of the most important jobs in the country (or perhaps the world!). As a female in male dominated field, I hope that I can help strengthen the idea in people's mind that women - and diversity in general - are an important part of enhancing this profession."

Wollongong-raised Kevin Jia-Jin Loo has spent the past 10 years at UOW, from his undergraduate degree to completing his PhD in medical radiation physics at just 26 years of age. His recent research has involved the development of an in-body imaging system to improve prostate cancer radiation treatment accuracy and outcomes.

"In prostate cancer there’s critical organs you’re trying to avoid, like the urethra and the rectum. So we’re basically avoiding those structures in a better way, so after the treatment patients can have a normal return to life quicker,” he told the Illawarra Mercury.

“It’s up to us as physicists to plan the treatments in conjunction with the doctors.”

Marc Teng Yen Hon graduated with a Bachelor of Science Advanced (Physics) Honours degree and was a University Medallist, awarded for academic performance across his entire undergraduate degree.

Honorary recipient Professor James Hill was made an Emeritus Professor of The University in recognition of his 35 years of service to UOW. Professor Hill joined the newly established University of Wollongong in 1975 as a young lecturer, and would go on to dedicate 35 years of outstanding service to the University.

This year’s graduations celebrate the start of the journey of those who will go on to leave a mark on the world and paid tribute to those who have contributed to the development of UOW as a world-class teaching and research university.

He was appointed Professor of Mathematics and to the first University Personal Chair at UOW in 1988 and played a major role in establishing UOW’s reputation as a place of notable international mathematics research.

Since leaving the University of Wollongong in 2010, he has held professorial positions at the University of Adelaide and at the University of South Australia, but continues to collaborate with UOW.

Graduating students from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences (EIS) heard a guest lecture from Major General John Frewen AM CSC, Head Military Strategic Commitments, Australian Defence Force. Major General Frewen is a career infantry officer whose father and grandfather also served in the Australian Army.

The afternoon ceremony for Faculty of Business students received guest speaker Mr Gareth Ward MP, Member for Kiama and Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and the South Coast.

UOW Chancellor Ms Jillian Broadbent AO presided over the morning and afternoon ceremonies.

Summer graduation 16 December photo gallery