November 1, 2016

Graduates honoured at November celebrations

The next generation of leaders in science, humanities, and law celebrate their graduation

Close to 500 students from across the fields of law, humanities, social sciences, health and medicine will be recognised at the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) Spring graduation celebrations today (Wednesday 2 November).

Undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts, the Faculty of Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health will celebrate their academic and research achievements in two ceremonies.

The Honourable Michael Kirby AC, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, will receive an Honorary Doctorate and deliver the Occasional Address during the morning ceremony. Professor Martin Tsamenyi, Director Emeritus and Professor at UOW’s Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, will also be recognised with an Emeritus Professorship.

In the afternoon ceremony, renowned social researcher and author Hugh Mackay will deliver the Occasional Address and receive an Honorary Doctorate.

Among the notable postgraduate students, Katherine Kent, who has graduated with a PhD from the School of Medicine, will be among the graduands to be recognised during the day’s proceedings. Katherine’s thesis has focused on the use of cherry juice to halt the physical and mental decline of people with dementia. Katherine will deliver the graduates’ remarks during the morning ceremony.

Among the undergraduate cohort, Tamika Briggs has graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science in Indigenous Health. Tamika is the first in her family to attend university and will take up a position as an Aboriginal Community Health Education worker after her studies.

In the field of public health, Ine Seljeseth has made significant inroads since commencing her undergraduate studies at UOW. The international student, who has since returned to her native Norway, has completed a Bachelor of Public Health at
UOW and will tomorrow celebrate her graduation with a Masters of Public Health. Ine was instrumental in helping establish the Illawarra Public Heath Society.

Since its foundation, UOW has awarded more than 132,000 degrees and diplomas.