EIT Honours More Degree Graduates

EIT Honours More Degree Graduates

EIT has more than ever to celebrate at the institute’s upcoming graduation ceremony, with the number of degree graduates up by more than 30 percent.

Last year, 305 Eastern Institute of Technology students completed their degrees compared to 233 in 2009 – a 31 percent increase on 2009.

Overall, EIT recorded a sixteen percent increase in all qualifications completed – 1625 last year compared to 1396 for certificates through to postgraduate qualifications in 2009. Of the 525 who completed qualifications at diploma and above level last year, 340 have said they will be taking part in the graduation ceremony.

The sessions that comprise the graduation ceremony will be held at Napier’s Municipal Theatre on Friday, 25 March. A formal occasion, graduation follows the awarding of certificates in faculty ceremonies held in December last year.

Because of the number of qualifications being awarded, graduation will be staged in two sessions – the morning session starting at 10.30am is for graduates in Applied Science, Business and Computing, Arts, Humanities and Trades while in the afternoon, beginning at 3pm, Māori Studies and Health Sciences graduands are to be capped.

Two valedictorians – Helen Burnett, graduating with a Bachelor of Computing Systems, and Daniel Ball, graduating with a Bachelor of Recreation and Sport – have been chosen to address their respective sessions.

A strong advocate of youth issues, Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft is to be the guest speaker for both ceremonies.

At school, Judge Becroft was told by his history teacher that his speech impediment – now under control – meant he would never be able to teach or be a minister or a lawyer.

Now he describes his role on the bench as “the most challenging, rewarding, demanding, depressing, frustrating and deeply fulfilling job I could ever imagine.”

Judge Becroft is the patron of the New Zealand Speak Easy Association Inc, which assists those with various forms of speech impediment, and the chairperson of the Board of the Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship (NZ) Inc.

All graduates will take part in the traditional graduation parade, starting at 1pm at Clive Square and progressing up Emerson Street to the Soundshell on Marine Parade.

Chief executive Chris Collins says the EIT community is very proud to be celebrating such a large number of graduate qualifications.

“Staff and the EIT Council are enormously pleased to be sharing with family and friends in paying tribute to the success of so many graduands.

“We offer them our heart-felt congratulations, and also salute the support of all those who have helped them to achieve their study goals.

“Our graduands have invested in their futures, and we all look forward to following their progress as they shape their paths as leaders in their chosen fields of endeavour.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media