HUNDREDS of talented students graduated from York College in a ceremony at York Minster.

The event on Thursday night saw higher education students at the college celebrating their graduation in a range of subjects including art, design and crafts, business, construction,education and sport.

Canon Chancellor Christopher Collingwood from York Minster welcomed the graduands and their guests. An opening address by Principal, Dr Alison Birkinshaw, was followed by a keynote speech from David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, who presented the graduands with their scrolls. A Vote of Thanks was given by College Governor Fiona Thompson.

The York College Governors’ Award was presented to Jennifer Georgiou, who graduated with a Foundation Degree in Young Children’s Learning and Development.

Karen Robson, head of higher education at York College, said: “We have some exceptional high grades this year and I commend our Higher Education students and their tutors on their achievements. At York College we offer a variety of Higher Education courses with small teaching groups, providing outstanding student support and leading to successful achievements with a wide range of employment possibilities, as well as further study opportunities. Today has been such a happy occasion and it has been wonderful to see everyone celebrating in the grandeur of York Minister.”

PGCE graduate David Hambleton, 57, added another qualification to his CV at the ceremony. He is embarking on a new teaching career having already enjoyed a successful career spanning 35 years in the worlds of finance, business and accounting.

For the last 18 years David, from Tadcaster, has worked in Education as a Finance Director at the University of York St John, the University of Leeds and at Bradford College. Prior to the world of education he worked for several large corporations, in accounting, insurance and business, including PLCs in the City of London. He even worked in Electronics and Aerospace!

David said: “My wife suddenly decided to resign from her managerial post in the NHS, to start working part-time. She felt so much better for it, with no travelling, less stress and more leisure time. It was a life changing event for her and I realised I too needed to make a change.”

Thinking through his options David returned to his favourite subject at school; maths. Even though he had worked in finance he missed ‘doing maths’. Already having a First Class degree in Maths and Sport (from Loughborough University) he looked at the closest place to home to gain a Post-graduate Teaching Certificate.

He said: “I was nervous about returning to education because I thought I would be learning alongside much younger people, however I was pleasantly surprised to see such a diverse range of ages in the classroom. The great thing about theYork College course is that the teaching practice is contained within the different Divisions of the College, which is so convenient. Even though the essay writing has been a challenge, I have enjoyed getting back in touch with maths so much and I’ve realised I want to work in the Further Education sector, teaching students who are keen to learn, on a part-time basis.”

David’s daughter Annaliese is an A-level student at York College and they have shared lifts and study time together over the past academic year. Following in her Dad’s footsteps, she too is about to embark on a new chapter of her life – at Loughborough University, but not before she helps her Dad celebrate his achievements, graduating in York Minster.

Brother and sister Bernardo and Maria Henriques enjoyed a unique opportunity to graduate together in the beauty of York Minster, having been schooled in Portugal and making the decision to come over to the UK to pursue higher education.

Bernardo, 22, studied BA (Hons) business leadership and management, said: “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to study in England as there is no such thing as a Higher Education Loan in Portugal. It has been wonderful to study at York College and with English not being our first language, we are proud to have coped with the challenge. It was an extra pressure listening and understanding the tutors’ dialects, as well as coping with the work load, particularly at first it was not easy. We are extremely happy to have achieved our degrees and feel indebted to our tutors for their support and encouragement.

Maria, 23, studied BA (Hons) public sector leadership and management said: “Studying together we were able to motivate each other. Our learning became more interactive which made it easier to adapt, and the College was very flexible to our learning needs, which was lovely. Having had a break from studying over the summer, we are looking forward to seeing what opportunities are out there, we hope new doors will open for us and we want to explore where our higher level qualifications can lead us. We would like to develop our careers in this country.” Their proud father could not have been happier watching his son and daughter graduate in York Minster, saying: “They were both brilliant at school and in coming over to the UK they have continued to work incredibly hard to complete their education. We are extremely grateful to the College and their tutors for enabling this to happen. This is every parent’s dream and the prestigious Graduation ceremony in York Minster was just perfect for the whole family to enjoy.” List of graduates: Art, Design and Crafts BA (Hons) Contemporary 3D Crafts: Maria Bloomfield; Rudo Bolcar; Tom Child; Dylan Jon Alexander Connor; Sally Elizabeth Mitchell Dixon; Samantha Furmanis; Louise Hogarth; Shirley Elizabeth Holdsworth; Rachel Carol Lacy; Jakub Michal Najwer; Elizabeth O’Connell; Annabel Peacock; Kayleigh Southren; Joanne Wilson. BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Production: Emily Beal; Eleanor Rose Cleary; Corinne Coolican; Libby Louise Mustill; Hannah Ryan. BA (Hons) Graphic Design: Matt Bellwood; Katherine Birkinshaw; Sophie Hawkes; Alifa Maria Rebello; Elle Wilkinson; Rebecca Jayne Wood. Business BA (Hons) Leadership and Management: Richard Gordon; Ricky Martin Hartley; Bernardo Henriques; Jessica Pitman; Daniel Woodcock. Foundation Degree Leadership and Management: Louise Clarkson, Judy Dunn, Rachel Glynn, Alexander Edward Green, Louise Michelle Ibbotson, Kuldeep Kaur, Dionne McLeod, Hafsat Ibrahim Maifada, Catherine Mary Pickard, Laura Stone. Construction: HNC Construction and the Built Environment: Joe Baxter; Jake Bird; Joseph Bradshaw; Louis Bristowe; Kieran Bond; Jordan Dargue; Christoper Richard Gartland; Matthew Adam Hubel; Tom Lightwing; Adam David Lines; Jacob McManaman; Craig Thomas Partington; James Quick; Laurence Rose; Jack Varley; Charlie Watling; Jamie Whitaker; Jason Yare. Digital Technologies: Foundation Degree Computer Systems, Design and Solutions: Matthew James Crawford; Harrison Oliver Kees; Bradley Alexander McCandless; Liam Perkins; Joshua David Nicol; Rebecca Room. Early Years and Education: BA (Hons) Educational Leadership – Children’s Workforce: Sadie Marie Bedingham; Sarah Cairney; Sarah Charnick; Kirsty Leanne Dickinson; Karl Liam Eaveson; Helen Ella; Chantelle Marie Horner; Donna Louise Hugill; Karen Long; Lyn Johnston; Maxine Turner; Rosie Walker; Melissa Wilson. Foundation Degree Young Children’s Learning and Development: Charlotte Brough; Jennifer Claire Georgiou; Joanne Kirsty Heyes; Nadia Hussain; Elizabeth Megan Kirk; Demi Leetham; Charlotte Amelia Quigley. Education: Postgraduate Certificate in Education: Bethany Brown; Naomi Watson; Angela Webster. Professional Graduate Certificate in Education: Jonathon James Bell; Matt Cater – Woodhead; Kate Lucy Collins; Lucy Jane Coulthard; Charlotte Dawson; Dominique Zoe Docker; Stuart Fanshaw; Benjeman Joseph Farrar; Reece Goscinski; Nathan Greenwood; David Hambleton; Connie Faith Howcroft; Aaron Alexander Jahn; Claire Louise Laurie; Joshua Thomas McKeown; Nicola Milner; Harriet Neal; Lisa Nicholson; Frances Payne; Helen Perry; Joshua Liam Sotheran; Charlotte Timbey; Hayler Amber Woods. Certificate in Education: Christopher Brooker; Jonathon Brown; Lee Steven Maskill; Aaron Ward. Engineering: HNC Electrical and Electronic Engineering: Andrew Christopher Cooper; Sean Thomas Croft; Tomas Michael Davis; Tyler Carl Fenwick; Harry John Gibb; Lewis George Goldsmith; Harry James Hall; Charlie Adam Harvey; Daniel James Moffatt; Alexander Ross Pickering; Samuel Ripley-Kitson; Joseph Andrew Ripley-Smith; Daniel Stanley; Michael John Thwaite; Alexander James Walker; James Mark Walker; George Watts; Simon David Wright; Steven Zanft. Media Make-Up: BA (Hons) Media Make-Up and Hair Design: Bethany Jayne Adlington; Lindsey Barclay; Nicola Brown-De'Moulpied; Alessandra Cammarata; Hannah Louise Campbell; Jordynn Clifford; Chloe Marie Fitzgerald; Patricia Guerin; Laura Jade Hogarth; Isobel Georgina Leaverland; Megan Norris; Rachel Sophie Pedlingham; Emma Charlotte Richards; Jodie Skerratt; Emily Verner. Foundation Degree Media Make-Up, Special Effects Make-Up and Hair Design: Sally Rose Atkinson; India Tamsin Barr; Joanna Barrett; Georgina Suzanne Bedford; Shannon Bennett; Abigail Bishop; Pariss Boseley-Yemm; Laura Brannigan; Taylor Jae Britton; Jemma Bywater-Seekings; Jemma Clennell; Helena Davis; Jaydeene Douglas; Holly Fidgeon; Jessica Rae Foster; Jasmine Fretwell; Chloe Rhiannon Gledhill; Katherine Daina Gregory; Emma Hardy; Ophelia Rose Hartley; Charlotte Louise Henshaw; Chloe Eunice Hill; Ashli Holmes; Rochelle Jennison-Smith; Natalie Marie Johnston; Nicola Ann King; Sophie Louise Laver; Francesca Lorenzini; Paige Patricia McKee; Louise Metcalfe; Danielle Maria Moore; Aisha Dion Mulhall; Heather Abigail Patton; Hannah Jane Pinder; Louise Price; Ellie Purvis; Kayley Ring; Riley Rae Rose; Rebecca Scott; Billie Thomas; Emily Tuska; Charlotte Walton-Clemit; Alexandra Megan Young; Hannah Young; Grace Zajicek. Public Services BA (Hons) Public Sector Leadership and Management: Victoria Green; Maria Henriques; Aaron James Alexander; Ollivier Anderton. Sport BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy: Lewis Bulmer; Gianni Gabbiadini; Rachel Lauren Gumley; Joanne Elizabeth Heseltine; Sophie Hoskin; Feruza Rafael; Carl Gordon Rose; Lisa Marie Young. FDSc Sports Therapy: Joseph Ryan Beattie; Nicole Amy Ellis; Gavin David Oliver; Mariana Petkova; Alice Stella Turner; Benjamin Wharton.