Hundreds of students celebrated their academic achievements with family and friends on the first day of Liverpool Hope University’s 2024 summer graduation ceremonies.
Three days of celebrations began on Tuesday 23 July as graduates donned their cap and gown to collect their degree certificates at the iconic Liverpool Cathedral.
Students from the Faculty of Human and Digital Sciences, as well as all those graduating with combined honours, kicked off this special week in the University calendar.
The day began at the Hope Park campus, where students toasted their success at a drinks reception with their tutors before taking part in the popular hat throw in the picturesque surroundings of the University’s grounds.
And, as our graduates prepare to embark on a new chapter in their lives, this landmark day was a chance to reflect on the experiences which made their time at University so special.
“I’m made up to be graduating,” said Toni Carr, who studied Childhood and Youth & Sport and PE and is now planning to begin a Masters in Youth and Community Development at Hope.
“As someone who was repeatedly told they would never achieve anything in their life, to come out with a degree after four years of study is absolutely amazing.
“Hope has given me so many opportunities and my tutors have given me so much confidence by having faith that I could succeed in my academic journey.”
Niamh Skelly, who graduated with a First in Sport Psychology and is progressing to study a Masters in the same subject, echoed this sentiment.
“It’s a bit surreal,” she added. “I couldn’t believe it to begin with but I am delighted to be graduating with a First.
“I want to work with professional athletes, be that teams or individual athletes. I feel Hope has prepared me for that because my course was really broad.
“Going into it I thought it would be specific to sport psychology but it combined a full course on sport with a full course on psychology so you develop such a broad range of skills.”
With the Class of 2024 having had part of their studies affected by Covid-19 and the resulting lockdowns, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Claire Ozanne, praised the determination they showed throughout their studies.
"Whether you have completed your undergraduate degree, your Masters or your doctoral studies, you will have worked very hard indeed to get to this point," she said.
“Many of you will have combined your study with a job and had to balance your commitment to study with your responsibilities at work or in the family.
“I know it’s been a difficult time because many of you were studying during the Covid pandemic and throughout lockdown, which presented a whole host of challenges.
“There will have been moments, I am sure, when you might have felt like giving up but you have fought through and worked hard to reach this point.
“You have demonstrated your extraordinary resilience and immense adaptability and this dedication will put you in good stead for the future.”
The celebrations will continue throughout this week, with further ceremonies taking place on Wednesday and Thursday.
Three inspirational individuals will receive honorary degrees alongside the Class of 2024.
Liverpool-born author and academic, Malik Al Nasir, was conferred a Doctor of Letters on Tuesday. Executive Director of CAFOD, Christine Allen, and leading anti-slavery campaigner, Sr Imelda Poole MBE, will be presented with their awards on Wednesday and Thursday.
Honorary degrees are the University's highest award and are given to those who have made an outstanding contribution to society through their specific field of interest.