For more than 7000 Griffith University students, today (Monday) marks the start of a week they dreamed about when they first enrolled, logged on or sat in a lecture theatre.
A series of graduation ceremonies in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, from today until Saturday, signals the end of one journey and the start of so many more.
Danielle Redford, who graduates with a Bachelor of Film and Screen Media, will be among the cohort taking to the stage of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this afternoon.
In her delivery as student speaker, Danielle will talk about how purpose and certainty have replaced fear as a result of an inspiring university journey.
“The voices we carry have the potential to ring louder and cut through the clamour,” she will tell classmates, senior university academics and invited guests.
- FIND OUT MORE: Husband and wife to graduate today
The ceremony will also be marked by the award of an Honorary Doctorate from Griffith University to internationally recognised arts leaderJohn Kotzas. The Chief Executive of Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) will be honoured for his contribution to the cultural and artistic life of the State at the ceremony in South Bank.
He is first of three nominees to be awarded the prestigious university honour this week. Physicist, chemical engineer and ecologist, Sir Robert May, Lord May of Oxford, and CSIRO scientist,
Professor San Thang, will also awarded the degree of Doctor of the University on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the Brisbane-based ceremonies will conclude with graduands of Griffith Business School receiving their degrees.
Among these will be Steven Seiler, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce, whose student speech will be delivered from a summit. “Let’s take some time to look around and enjoy the view,” he will invite classmates. “It’s fantastic.”
This cohort will also be addressed by John Wylie AM, Chair of Australian Sports Commission.
The attention turns to the Gold Coast at the end of the week with ceremonies at the Gold Coast Exhibition and Convention Centre on Friday and Saturday, which will produce about 3000 graduates.
Among the group graduating on the final day will be Michael Baker who has regularly run health clinics as part of a group of dental students at Cherbourg during his time as a student at Griffith. He graduates with a Bachelor of Oral Health in Dental Science.
“I won’t go out there as a student in the future but I will definitely go out as a supervisor so I will still have an active role in this program as time goes on,” he said. “It’s not something I want to give up.”
