THE University of Bradford has held its first in-person summer graduation ceremonies since lockdown, including an honorary degree for a former editor of the Telegraph & Argus.
Ceremonies are taking place all week, with around 3,000 graduates from 2020, 2021 and associated guests in attendance from Monday through to Friday. Graduates from 2022 will also have their ceremonies this week.
Perry Austin-Clarke, who was T&A editor for 25 years between 1992 and 2017, has been awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of the University. This is in recognition of his work in journalism and business.
The first in-person summer graduations since lockdown are taking place at the University, with graduates of 2020, 2021, who missed out on the ceremonies due to lockdowns. It was also an opportunity for the university to celebrate its honorary graduates from the past two years. pic.twitter.com/jWMIKfHQUz
— University of Bradford (@UniofBradford) July 19, 2022
He says he is proud to accept the honour and paid tribute to the hardworking colleagues he worked with at the T&A throughout his 25 years at the newspaper.
He added it could also be recognition for the number of charitable campaigns the newspaper ran during that 25-year period. These included the Save Our City Appeal to keep Bradford City in business in 2004, which reached its £250,000 target.
Mr Austin-Clarke said: “I’m really proud, honoured and grateful to the university for the recognition of my efforts for nearly 30 years in Bradford.”
Meanwhile, students from 2020 and 2021 attending the ceremony said they were pleased they had been given a chance to attend an in-person event to mark their graduation.
Rhiann French and Jessica Doherty both graduated in 2020, each with a BSc in business management, as part of a degree apprenticeship with Morrisons. Rhiann said: “Today has given us the chance to meet up with friends we last saw just before the pandemic.”
Professor Shirley Congdon, vice-chancellor, said: “This year’s summer graduations will be particularly memorable, and not just because of the hot weather.
“Summer graduation is a rite of passage for students. The fact that so many were denied that special moment because of covid makes this year’s ceremony more significant.”
Others awarded honorary degrees yesterday were Nitham Hindi, Professor Stephen Greyser and Allan Jagger.
Mr Jagger has been awarded the Doctor of the University in recognition of his work with Rotary International and Rotary Peace and his strong support of the Bradford peace centre.
He is a former president of Rotary International Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI). He has been a key supporter of Rotary International’s work on peace.
Professor Greyser, who created and teaches Harvard’s Business of Sports course.
Mr Hindi has been awarded an honorary degree for Doctor of Education. He is a professor of accounting and economics at Qatar University.
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