HATS OFF TO CLASS OF ’22
OVER three days this week thousands of University of Derby students have crossed the stage at Derby Arena to become its latest graduates – the class of 2022.
They have graduated in one of eight ceremonies spanning the entire subject mix of the university, acquiring qualifications including diplomas, and batchelors’, masters’ and PhD degrees.
Here we have a selection of photos to give a flavour of the joy felt by the university’s latest batch of graduates as they head towards roles in their chosen fields or further study. The audience, mainly friends and relatives, were also treated to seeing seven eminent people celebrated with the awarding of honorary degrees including:
■■Captain Harpreet Chandi MBE – British Army officer and physiotherapist from Derby (Honorary Master of the University)
■■Shaun Dellenty – award-winning advocate in the field of LGBT+ rights and education (Honorary Doctor of Education)
■■Liam Sharp – Derby-born publisher, artist and writer of comics and novels (Honorary Doctor of the University)
■■Amarjit Raju – award-winning chief executive of Disability Direct and published author (Honorary Doctor of the University)
■■Lydia Thompson – member of the England Women’s Rugby Union Team and University of Derby graduate (Honorary Master of the University)
■■Her Honour Judge Nirmal Shant QC – Resident Judge at Derby Crown Court (Honorary Doctor of the University)
■■Peter Smith – a founder of law firm Smith Partnership and founding chair of the Derby Museums Trust (Honorary Master of the University). Crossing the stage is a rite of passage for the graduating students and on their way they are congratulated by dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenant, Mayor of Derby and vice-chancellor and chancellor of the university.
The organisation of the event is a massive task from the moment that invitations are sent out to the graduating students through to the day of the ceremony to make sure it all goes smoothly.