Hundreds of students from the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences took centre stage on the second day of De Montfort University Leicester’s (DMU) summer graduations.
Degrees were presented by Vice Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Collop to students from the School of Applied Social Sciences and the School of Nursing and Midwifery during three ceremonies held at The Venue@DMU throughout the day.
The family of Mateusz Polomski travelled to Leicester from Poland to share the special experience of his graduation day with him.
The 24-year-old studied Criminology and Criminal Justice with Psychology and is now pursuing a career as a probation officer.
“I really enjoyed graduating,” he said. “I’m so proud because my degree was in a foreign language so there was additional difficulty for me. It was an amazing experience. It was a difficult time but I enjoyed it.
“My lovely wife, my parents-in-law and my aunty are here and it’s very nice to be able to share the day with them.”
Halima Jama, from Bristol, graduated from Education Studies and said it was the perfect end to her time at DMU.
The 21-year-old said: “It was really good. It’s a big achievement and definitely a proud moment for me. A lot of hard work paid off.
“Coming to DMU was a good experience. I really enjoyed participating in societies and meeting new people.”
Policing graduate Miles Pring, from Wales, believes his time at DMU will set him up for a career in the police force.
He said: “The ceremony was great fun and good for the parents. I’m very proud of the work I’ve done over the last few years. I’m really glad I came to DMU.”
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An Honorary Doctor of Science degree was presented to Specsavers co-founder Dame Mary Perkins. Dame Mary co-founded Specsavers with her husband in 1984 and the business has now grown to have 30,000 staff and 1,700 branches internationally.
The company is also the largest provider of free NHS digital hearing aids and some 60% of its 20 million customers come via the NHS.
Dame Mary places enormous emphasis on ‘putting people first’. She is an ambassador for Vision Aid Overseas and works with organisations including everywoman, Soundseekers, Changing Faces, Visioncare for the Homeless, Hearing Dogs and Action Aid.
She is also committed to sharing her insights and experience with young people and young women in particular, so they understand the many career paths open to them in every field, and the positive opportunities these bring.
She said: "The word for me to focus on is ‘honorary’, that’s exactly how I feel to receive a great honour today of a doctorate from De Montfort University."
Dame Mary urged the graduands to become mentors of the future for undergraduates following after them.
She said: "It's all about helping you and others to be the best that they can be. That's part of the Specsavers values that I have in my company; to help others to be the best that they can be.
"You have to make a difference to the people you work with and the people you come across. Make a difference every day to the people you meet."
With many of today’s graduates making their way into healthcare and the NHS, Dame Mary’s example is of great significance.
Posted on Monday 16 July 2018