Congratulations to all of our students who graduated on Friday!

It was great to see the School of Computing and Digital Technologies out in force for the grand finale of Awards Week 2017. Despite the day starting off a little on the dark side, the sun came out to see lots of our students and staff enjoying the day with family and friends on the beautiful Trentham Estate.

Our Computing graduands were up first in the morning ceremony, where Carol and Kevin Shanahan received the joint award of Honorary Doctor to recognise their work and the thriving local business they set up together – Synectics Solutions.

“Change always equals opportunity for someone,” Kevin told our new graduates. “Major change equals major opportunities, and it’s up to you guys to go and seize them.”

The company employs over 350 people – including two Staffordshire University alumni on the senior leadership team – and has taken many students on placement over the years.

“We’re absolutely delighted that the Class of 2017 are coming to Synectics,” added Carol, explaining that three of this year’s graduates will be joining the company.

Then our Film and Media, Journalism, Games and Visual Effects students took to the stage in the afternoon for what Vice-Chancellor Liz Barnes described as “probably the liveliest ceremony of the week”! Staffordshire-born explorer, photographer and writer Major Levison Wood received his honorary doctorate, and he too had some inspirational words for our graduates:

“This isn’t the end; it’s only the beginning of a new great adventure, which you should be very excited about.”

If you want to relive the moment you crossed the stage, you can view the live streams now on the Awards Ceremonies Facebook page.

Find all the best photos of the day on the Staffordshire University Facebook page.

Now we’re looking forward to doing it all again next year!