CELEBRATIONS got underway at York Minster as the cathedral played host to this year's York College graduation ceremony.
Canon Christopher Collingwood from York Minster welcomed graduands and guests and an opening address was given by principal Dr Alison Birkinshaw, followed by a key note speech from Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire. The vote of thanks was given by chairman of governors, Shirley Collier.
This year 77 per cent of students graduating from BA programmes achieved a First Class or 2:1 degree classification, 67 per cent of foundation degree graduates achieved a merit or distinction grade and 85 per cent of HNC graduates achieved a merit or distinction grade.
Special prizes were awarded to the following students: HE Student of the Year
Ben Porter (post graduation certificate in education); Most Determined Student of the Year; Joseph Whiteley (BA Hons management); Governors’ Award; Frederick Ayres (foundation degree computer systems, design and solutions).
Andrea Shepherd, the college's assistant principal for higher education, said: "Graduating in the wonderful surroundings of York Minster is a fabulous way to celebrate the hard work and dedication of all our higher education students.
"This very special occasion is not only for our students, it just as important for their proud families and friends who have supported them throughout their studies.
"I congratulate all our graduates and wish them every success in their future careers.”
One of the stand out stories from the night was that of 25-year-old former footballer Ashleigh Trainer who was forced to face the realities of life-changing sporting injuries and now intends to forge a new career, working in athletics as a sports therapist in the USA.
Graduating with a BSc (Hons) in sports therapy, Ashleigh recalls the devastation she felt in 2012, whilst in the second year of her football scholarship at the Northern Oklahoma College USA, as goalkeeper, she was badly injured as she dived for a ball. This turn of events then meant Ashleigh was flown home for surgery on her dislocated knee and badly torn ligaments – bringing her promising footballing career in the States to an abrupt halt.
Being unable to play professional football and return to the States, Ashleigh was forced to stay in the UK, leaving her American fiancée waiting on the other side of the pond.
Ashleigh said: “I needed to take stock of my future and make a career change. It made sense to turn my attentions to sports therapy, which is absolutely massive in the States. With hundreds of sports teams needing treatments it seemed the obvious avenue for me to pursue.
“I decided to research the best places to study sports therapy in the UK and found that York College offered the most reputable course, even though it meant I had to travel from Middlesbrough.
"The course has been brilliant and more in-depth than I anticipated. The tutors are very knowledgeable and I have learnt so much. After three years of study I am excited about the future; I have new skills that will enable me to embark on a new career in a different aspect of sport. My visa application is being processed and shortly I hope to be reunited with my fiancé – she has been very patient whilst I have been studying in the UK and will share my big moment when I finally graduate in York Minster. The last few years have been hard but with my sports therapy degree brings new opportunities for me.”
BA (Hons) Contemporary 3D Crafts
Jake Augur
Layla Khoo
Olivia Lawrenson
Lydia Munro
Dawn Ridsdel
Samantha Ursell
Sharon Wilkinson
BA (Hons Fashion Design and Production
Paula Delgado Ray
Lucy Sherwood
Ashleigh Timbs
Kellie Marie Walker
Sabrina Wharton-Brown
Lucy White
BA (Hons) Graphic Design
Oliver Georgiou
Sophie Holme
Chloe Jefferson
Chloe Jones
Sanem Koyupinar
Grace Leaverland
Alexandra Lee
Melissa Magson
Jessica Moses
James Wray
BA (Hons) Management
Constance Booth
Poppy Bringloe
Jonathan Bundy
Jason Butler
Mariama Camara
Megan Dyball
Maddison Ellis
Grace O’Neill
Ursula Upson
Zat Watson
Joseph Whiteley
FD Management with Business Studies
Kirstie Anderson
Thomas Barker
George Bringloe
Rosanna Guy
Savannah Hardwick
Bernardo Henriques
Alexandra Hilton
Daniella Makin
Ewan Miller
BA (Hons) Educational Leadership- Children’s Workforce
Zoe Allan
Hayley Baker
Samantha Bryan
Charlotte Cooper
Kaley Harsley
Megan Holmes
Donna McMahon
Victoria Prole
Allison Shirbon
Jennifer Taylor
Julie Tooke
Elizabeth Umpleby
Tracey White
FD Young Children’s Learning and Development
Sadie Bedingham
Kathryn Blackburn
Sarah Cairney
Sarah Charnick
Kirsty Dickinson
Chantelle Horner
Donna Hugill
Karen Long
Melissa Wilson
HNC Construction and the Built Environment
Benjamin Ainsley
Jack Barrand
Ashleigh Gemlo-Dunstan
Harry Hope
Sarah Hunt
Blaine Key
Joshua Popely
Megan Sadler
Chantelle Wrightson
FD Computer Systems, Design & Solutions
Frederick Ayres
Adam Frazik
Billy Plant
Gareth Walwyn
Rhys Wyrill
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Janet Baker
Benjamin Clowes
Luke Lount
Benjamin Porter
Charlotte Salt
Lois Stothard
Professional Certificate in Education
Lindsey Bradbury
David Brown
Hester de Groot
Andrew Graham
Alana Miles
Tracey Palmer
Eleanor Standford
Certificate in Education
Natasha Dickson
Peter Harrison
Catherine Morin
Victoria Nettleship
Niall O’Reilly
Kylie Penn
Tamsin Winstanley
HNC Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Gavin Redshaw
Cameron Smith
Jonathon Turton
BA (Hons) Media Make-Up and Hair Design
Sian Barraclough
Hannah Brittain
Catherine Buglass
Alexandra Coates
Alice Curtis
Freya Davage
Josie Hancock
Laura Hill
FD Media Make-Up, Special Effects Make-Up & Hair
Jordan Anderson
Lindsey Barclay
Hollie Blackwell
Nicola Brown-De’Moulpied
Megan Cahill
Megan Caie
Alessandra Cammarata
Hannah Campbell
Melissa Charlton
Jordynn Clifford
Eleanor Cooke
Amanda Dillon
Chloe Fitzgerald
Aimée Foster
Emily Goran
Cherylene Grivon
Patricia Guerin
Bethany Jackson
Carris Jones
Hannah Judge
Susannah Kennedy
Isobel Leaverland
Bethan Lumley
Rebecca Maher
Nancy McGuigan
Isla Murray
Chrissy Newton
Megan Norris
Rachel Pedlingham
Emma Richards
Heather Rigg
Caitlin Roberts
Jodie Skerratt
Manon Tissier
Macy Varnham
Emily Verner
Keeley Westmoreland
Georgina Williamson
BA (Hons) Public Sector Management
Jake Fletcher
Hannah Holland
Peter Lawrence
Stephanie Thornley-Westerman
Tom Winters
FD Community & Public Services
Victoria Green
Maria Henriques
BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy
Eleanor Frank
Rachel Harding
Helen Lees
Jack Pinder
Ashleigh Trainer
FDSc in Sports Therapy
Gianni Gabbiadini
Rachel Gumley
Lisa Young
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