Six friends from the same science class who had helped make a breakthrough in treating cancer while on their course have celebrated their graduation together.
The group – Jack Wright, Jack Harper, Abigail Rapley, Samantha O’Neill, Liam Wood and Krupesh Patel – were enjoying successfully completing a Biomedical Science BSC at their ceremony today.
And joining them for the occasion was their lecturer, Dr Mhairi Morris, who had worked closely with them on making advances in understanding head and neck cancer, finding evidence which suggests how cancerous cells become more mobile in the body, causing the condition to spread.
Though the whole group was happy, having enjoyed the new-look graduation ceremony, Jack Wright had more reason than many to be pleased, having picked up three prizes for his work: Highest Overall Mark, Highest Project Module Mark and the Silver Frank May award.
He said he had enjoyed the ceremony more than he thought he would: “I was possibly a bit cynical about it all before but actually I was really impressed today. It was a fun show.
“I was very pleased to have won the awards; just a great way to finish off three brilliant years here.”
Krupesh Patel said it was the people he’d met while at DMU which had made the experience so memorable.
He said: “I surprised myself, I think. I was drawn to the practical research, so much so that I’ve applied to do a master’s.”
Dr Morris said she was particularly attached to the group of graduates.
She said: “I’m so proud of them, I’d love them to stay on. I started at DMU three years ago so this is the first group I’ve seen through the whole process and I’m so excited for them.”
Today was the second day of graduation ceremonies taking place this week at DMU, celebrating the achievements of students in the Health and Life Sciences subjects.
Enjoying her day was Psychology student Erin Dwyer, who enjoyed a luxurious day having won top prize in this year’s Ultimate Graduation competition.
Having submitted a picture of her favourite DMU memory – a snap of a night out during Fresher’s Week – Erin was chosen as the winner of a package of gifts including hair treatment, photographs, robe hire, slap-up meal, drinks and gift vouchers.
She said: “The ceremony was all more emotional than I expected it to be, I think it was the music at the end, that point where you realise that it's the end of your time at university.
"My mum held it together quite well; she's been crying every time I mention the graduation. It was just the perfect end to my time here."
And Milly Percival was celebrating after becoming the first person in her family to graduate from university.
The Criminology graduate said: “The course was really hard but I worked for it. I had a lot of help from lecturers and they have made it possible for me to get this degree.
“I also had great opportunities, like going to Poland with #DMUglobal. That brought a lot of what I was being taught to life and I might never have gone there otherwise.”
Posted on Monday 18 July 2016