Day to celebrate achievements of top students

Graduates planning for the future after completing their studies

Hundreds of students will graduate from Abertay University during today’s winter ceremony.

They represent the first wave to complete new accelerated degree programmes, which give students the chance to complete the equivalent of a four-year course in three years.

Among those taking part in the ceremony, at the Caird Hall from 11am, will be a single mother-of-two, who was the first in her family to go to university.

Cheryl Tornado left school aged 16 with just four standard grades and had her first child by the age of 20.

She has now completed a degree in ethical hacking after juggling her studies with work and childcare.

And bizarrely it was a faulty printer that set her on the path to a new life.

After hours spent reprogramming the machine, Cheryl discovered a hidden aptitude for computing.

She said it had been tough but worth all the effort.

“It’s not been easy and most nights I was coming in from uni or work, getting the kids fed and into bed then studying on the laptop until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any more,” she said.

“I just kept telling myself I was doing it for the kids to give them a better life and hopefully they will see me going to uni and want do that. I want them to do better than me.”

Fellow graduand Ryan Beattie, from Arbroath, plans to take on a funded Masters project looking at how to limit head injuries in rugby.

He said: “Some are advocating for tackling to be removed from rugby up until senior level, but to me we can’t change the fact that tackling is a huge part of the game – it’s the bit the players and fans enjoy.

“I think there needs to be more education and players need to understand the long term risks.”

An honorary degree will also be awarded to Karen Darke MBE, a Paralympic champion in hand-cycling.

Today’s graduands will be following in the footsteps of fellow students who graduated earlier this year.

Pictures: Steven Brown.