Class of 2022 summer graduations to begin

Gowned graduands and their loved ones will be converging on Carlisle city centre to celebrate their achievements on Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20, and Thursday 21 July 2022.

Carlisle Cathedral, celebrating its own 900^th anniversary in 2022, will see degrees and other academic awards conferred upon the graduands in seven different ceremonies, each one watched by proud parents, families, and friends who have supported them.

On each occasion, there will be a formal procession into the Cathedral with staff and graduates in academic robes. Celebratory receptions will take place at the Crown & Mitre Hotel immediately after each ceremony.

This week’s events are the first set of ceremonies to celebrate the University of Cumbria’s Class of 2022 as the institution makes a return to its biannual ceremonies, with a further set being planned to take place in November.

From adult nursing to zoology, those completing flexible and diverse programmes delivered across the university’s five institutes – arts; education; health; business, industry and leadership; and science and environment – will be participating.

They will include newly qualified nurses who are the first to complete the university’s four-year Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship, a programme which was the first of its kind when it was launched in 2018, and international students who have completed programmes via the BachelorPlus partnership between the university and Dusseldorf-based DAA Wirtschaftsakademie. 

The university’s collaborative links with employers to address higher-level skills, sector and place needs will also be demonstrated when Project Management graduands who work for organisations of international, national, and regional importance, such as Sellafield Ltd and BAE Systems celebrate.

Special awards will also be presented over the course of the three days. They include four honorary fellowships, an Alumnus of the Year award that recognises the exceptional achievements of a graduate, and the ‘Spirit of Cumbria’ award which is presented to a graduand who embodies the university’s values of being Progressive, Personal and Engaged.

Vice Chancellor Professor Julie Mennell (right) said: “The University of Cumbria strives to inspire and equip our graduates and communities to thrive, now and for future generations. Our graduation week exemplifies this and the tremendous impact our graduates have and in so many aspects of our region’s sectors and public service.

“We are immensely proud of our class of 2022 and what they have achieved in such challenging circumstances. We are looking forward to welcoming them and their loved ones to Carlisle Cathedral and to celebrating their success.”

All ceremonies will be live streamed and can be viewed at https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/graduation. Social media updates will also be available via @cumbriauni, using the hashtag #WeAreCumbria.

CEREMONY INFORMATION

Tuesday 19 July – three ceremonies, starting at 10am, noon and 3pm

3pm – Honorary Fellowship: Nigel Wilkinson MBE, managing director of Windermere Lake Cruises Limited, in recognition of his lifelong and outstanding service to tourism and the economy of Cumbria.

Wed 20 July – two ceremonies, starting at noon and 3pm

Noon - Alumnus of the Year: Joanne Telford (below, left), who has overcome personal challenges, turned to caring and nursing after being inspired by district nurses who cared for a relative. Joanne returned to college and university as a mature student to complete her nursing qualifications. She is now, less than five years after graduating herself, a Diabetes Specialist Nurse for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust. She also volunteers for NHS England’s ‘NextGen Nurse’ project to inspire teenagers and others to enter the profession.

3pm - Honorary Fellowship: Dr Julie Staun OBE (below, right), who has made a significant international contribution to Occupational Health Nursing during her distinguished career spanning more than 50 year and who, in 2018 (at the age of 76), was awarded the title of Doctor of Philosophy through the University of Cumbria’s postgraduate programme.

3pm – Spirit of Cumbria Award: Royal Lancaster Infirmary ED nurse Cherish Otoo, from Morecambe, was among the first group of students to embark on the university’s four-year Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship. In May 2022, she won two national Student Nursing Times Awards – Most Inspirational Student and the Mary Seacole Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion.

Thursday – two ceremonies, starting at 10am and noon 

10am – Honorary Fellowship: Barrow-born Jackie Arnold MBE (left), who has over 40 years’ experience in business and financial management and has held several senior positions with BAE Systems, the largest defence contractor in Europe.

Noon – Honorary Fellowship: Former chairman of the university’s board of directors Geoff Donnelly (below, right), who will be recognised for his lifelong and outstanding contribution to financial management, governance, and public service.

Noon – Cumbrian army reservist Derek Mawby, who left school 20 years without any formal qualifications, is recognised as an Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership prizewinner, celebrating a student of the year award as he gains a trailblazing security degree.