York College University Centre's students celebrate during joyous Minster Graduation Ceremony

More than 150 graduates from the college’s degree and higher-level courses were joined by family members, friends and tutors, who enthusiastically applauded their academic success in the magnificent setting of York Minster.

Not even the rain could dampen spirits as the students picked up their gowns from the Guildhall and then processed to the Minster behind York Town Crier Ben Fry. 

Guest Speaker Sir Vince Cable, meanwhile, hailed the College as “one of Britain’s best and most highly regarded” during the ceremony, in which he spoke of his family’s links to the institution, with his father having taught Bricklaying and Building Science at the old Clifford Street site and his mother a former Art student.

Special awards were also given to six students in recognition of their hard work and achievement.

The Principal’s Award was presented to BA (Hons) Media Make-up, Special Effects and Hair Design student Evie Cullen and Pasha Luspikayev – a graduate from the Digital Technologies (Cybersecurity) Foundation Degree – scooped the Governors’ Award.

Further prizes were handed out to Laura Smelt (Outstanding Achievement Award for Creative Studies sponsored by The Open University); Sonny Dalton-Milliken (The Institute of Technology Outstanding Achievement Award); Danai Kyritsi (Outstanding Achievement in Professional Studies Award sponsored by Aviva) and Jemima Macdonald (Outstanding Achievement Award for Progression sponsored by the Skills and Education Group). 

Laura graduated with First-Class Honours from her BA (Hons) Graphic and Communication Design course and is now working as a Junior Designer for Home.CC – a company that aims to alleviate some of the stress and burden attached to moving into a new house. 

She returned to education at the age of 28 and completed an Access to Higher Education in Art & Design Diploma before progressing onto the degree course. 

On the culmination of her academic journey, Laura said: “Celebrating it all coming to an end with my family is emotional. A degree is something I have wanted for a long time and I’m really happy with my achievement.”

Despite English not being his first language, Ukrainian-born Pasha gained a Merit on his Foundation Degree, having first arrived on Campus as a Level 1 IT student in 2018. 

He admitted: “Graduating is a big honour and all those long years of studying have paid off. I’m now going to do the Cybersecurity top-up degree with the Open University.”

Among the Ceremony’s Platform Party, alongside former Liberal Democrats leader and Government Cabinet member Sir Vince, were Margaret Wells, The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of York, and Dr Wayne Bailey, the Head of School of Education for Huddersfield University.

Sir Vince, who also enjoyed a tour of the college today, congratulated the graduates and their tutors on the part they had played in the students’ success.

He went on to add how he believed that the college is breaking “glass ceilings” by opening up Higher Education progression pathways to a broader demographic of people.

During his address, Sir Vince said: “One of the great things about your college today is that it doesn’t recognise glass ceilings. The Access to Higher Education courses provide a progression route even for people who left education behind at GCSE stage. 

“We no longer accept that people should be trapped for life by virtue of their class, race or gender.”

He also openly spoke about how his mother’s Art course helped her recover from a mental breakdown, describing it as “an object lesson in the power of education to change lives at any age and for any background”.

Addressing the graduates, Mr Merry added: “Being able to celebrate the completion of any qualification is wonderful and can open doors to an exciting career, but there is always something a little more special about graduating from a degree or higher-level qualification. Such qualifications are hard to achieve; they take a lot of determination, a lot of perseverance, and a lot of challenging work. 

“Education can be life changing and life defining.  I would not be where I am today if it was not for a strong education and the opportunities that this has presented to me. 

“Whatever your future holds, please throw yourself into it and tackle it with the same passion, enthusiasm, and dedication that you have your studies. If you do that, there will be no end to the remarkable things you can achieve in your life and career.” 

For more information on York College University Centre’s degree and higher-level education courses, please click here

You can also discuss the different courses with tutors at the college’s next Open Event on Tuesday 8^th October from 5.30-8pm. Register for a place by visiting here