PHOTO GALLERY: UHI Inverness grads return for in person ceremony
Around 500 people attended the Graduation Celebration on Saturday, to honour those who graduated in absentia during Covid-19 restrictions.
Published 13th Jun 2022 Last updated 13th Jun 2022
Former students of UHI Inverness who graduated during the pandemic have been able to celebrate their success in person.
Around 500 people attended the Graduation Celebration at the Inverness Campus on Saturday, to honour those who had to graduate in absentia during Covid-19 restrictions.
UHI Inverness held online celebratory events and published online graduation brochures in 2020 and 2021 to mark the achievements of graduates, but they say they wanted to provide an opportunity for them to attend an on-campus event for a retrospective celebration.
During Saturday’s celebration the graduates received a congratulatory scroll and had formal graduation photographs taken in their academic gowns.
The attendees enjoyed welcome drinks and a marquee buffet reception. The programme of entertainment included a surprise flash mob by Street Struck Dance from Inverness and Nairn, sketches by local artist and caricaturist, Alex Emel, and music by DJ Scott Mackenzie.
Sanda Kodimah graduated from UHI Inverness in 2020 with a PDA Health and Social Care – Administration of Medication and now works for Centred, a mental health charity in Inverness.
Sanda Kodimah
PHOTO GALLERY: UHI Inverness grads return for in person ceremony
2 of 12
Jade Hutchison, Alina Ben Larbi, James Reilly, Laura Baumgarten and Shannon Diack. They graduated BA (Hons) Drama and Production in 2021, apart from Laura who gained a BA (Hons) Literature
Jade Hutchison, Alina Ben Larbi, James Reilly, Laura Baumgarten and Shannon Diack
Sanda Kodimah graduated from UHI Inverness in 2020 with a PDA Health and Social Care – Administration of Medication and now works for Centred, a mental health charity in Inverness.
Sanda Kodimah
It was a family celebration for Ceilidh McLeod from Inverness who was joined by her children Murray, Archie and Elle and husband Murray. Ceilidh graduated from UHI Inverness with BSc (Hons) Psychology in 2020 and is now studying a Masters in Counselling through Yorkville University in New Brunswick, Canada.
Ceilidh McLeod
Gillian Morrison of Inverness, Cat Mackenzie from Kirkhill and Margaret Smith of Nairn.
Gillian Morrison of Inverness, Cat Mackenzie from Kirkhill and Margaret Smith of Nairn.
Former Inverness HISA president George Gunn of Brora graduated BSc (Hons) Geography in 2020 and now works as a Climate Change Strategy Officer at Moray Council
George Gunn
Architectural Technology honours degree graduates Calum McNeill, Marcel Ulas and Jamey Campbell reunite to celebrate.
Calum McNeill, Marcel Ulas and Jamey Campbell
HND Sports Therapy graduates Jo Abernethy and Lidia Kuzma from Inverness celebrate together.
Jo Abernethy and Lidia Kuzma
PGDE Primary graduates Emily Mackenzie of Inverness and Sorcha Shepherd from Invergordon are now probationary teachers.
Emily Mackenzie of Inverness and Sorcha Shepherd from Invergordon
PGDE Primary 2020 graduate Fraser Szymborski-Welsh with baby daughter Sula. He now teaches at Dochgarroch and Tomnacross primary schools
Fraser Szymborski-Welsh with baby daughter Sula
Connor Wright of Inverness who gained his BA (Hons) in Literature in 2021.
Connor Wright
BA Childhood Practice graduates Shelle Duncan-Kidd and Ailsa Sugden
Shelle Duncan-Kidd and Ailsa Sugden
David Laszkiewicz of Inverness graduated with BA (Hons) Business Management with Marketing in 2020 and now works in digital marketing
David Laszkiewicz
Jade Hutchison, Alina Ben Larbi, James Reilly, Laura Baumgarten and Shannon Diack. They graduated BA (Hons) Drama and Production in 2021, apart from Laura who gained a BA (Hons) Literature
Jade Hutchison, Alina Ben Larbi, James Reilly, Laura Baumgarten and Shannon Diack
Sanda Kodimah graduated from UHI Inverness in 2020 with a PDA Health and Social Care – Administration of Medication and now works for Centred, a mental health charity in Inverness.
Sanda Kodimah
It was a family celebration for Ceilidh McLeod from Inverness who was joined by her children Murray, Archie and Elle and husband Murray. Ceilidh graduated from UHI Inverness with BSc (Hons) Psychology in 2020 and is now studying a Masters in Counselling through Yorkville University in New Brunswick, Canada.
Ceilidh McLeod
Gillian Morrison of Inverness, Cat Mackenzie from Kirkhill and Margaret Smith of Nairn.
Gillian Morrison of Inverness, Cat Mackenzie from Kirkhill and Margaret Smith of Nairn.
Former Inverness HISA president George Gunn of Brora graduated BSc (Hons) Geography in 2020 and now works as a Climate Change Strategy Officer at Moray Council
George Gunn
Architectural Technology honours degree graduates Calum McNeill, Marcel Ulas and Jamey Campbell reunite to celebrate.
Calum McNeill, Marcel Ulas and Jamey Campbell
HND Sports Therapy graduates Jo Abernethy and Lidia Kuzma from Inverness celebrate together.
Jo Abernethy and Lidia Kuzma
PGDE Primary graduates Emily Mackenzie of Inverness and Sorcha Shepherd from Invergordon are now probationary teachers.
Emily Mackenzie of Inverness and Sorcha Shepherd from Invergordon
PGDE Primary 2020 graduate Fraser Szymborski-Welsh with baby daughter Sula. He now teaches at Dochgarroch and Tomnacross primary schools
Fraser Szymborski-Welsh with baby daughter Sula
Connor Wright of Inverness who gained his BA (Hons) in Literature in 2021.
Connor Wright
BA Childhood Practice graduates Shelle Duncan-Kidd and Ailsa Sugden
Shelle Duncan-Kidd and Ailsa Sugden
David Laszkiewicz of Inverness graduated with BA (Hons) Business Management with Marketing in 2020 and now works in digital marketing
David Laszkiewicz
Jade Hutchison, Alina Ben Larbi, James Reilly, Laura Baumgarten and Shannon Diack. They graduated BA (Hons) Drama and Production in 2021, apart from Laura who gained a BA (Hons) Literature
Jade Hutchison, Alina Ben Larbi, James Reilly, Laura Baumgarten and Shannon Diack
Extraordinary dedication
The graduates were welcomed back to UHI Inverness by Principal Professor Chris O’Neil who told them he was delighted that he could at last congratulate them in person.
He said: “You, our graduates of 2020 and 2021 showed extraordinary dedication in extraordinary times. With little warning you adapted your studies and overcame unique obstacles that no other generation of students has faced. You demonstrated resilience, determination, and flexibility in unprecedented circumstances, and I am in
no doubt that those are valuable strengths that will serve you well now and in the future.”
Ruth McFadyen, UHI Inverness President of Highlands and Islands Students’ Association, said: "The graduates of 2020 and 2021 have been an absolute inspiration to all our students, and I know they are going to go on and do some great things."
Amazing to come back
Shelle Duncan-Kidd from Inverness graduated with a BA in Childhood Practice from UHI Inverness in 2020 and is now a Senior Community Children’s Worker, supporting families with additional support needs across the Highlands.
She said: “I loved studying at UHI Inverness, and it definitely helped me stand out and I get quite a lot of compliments about how good my practice is. Although it has been a couple of years since I graduated, it has been amazing to come back and celebrate with everyone. There are some people in my class that I never met, due to studying online, and we have come from all over to be here, so it is great for us to finally meet up as a group.”
Shelle’s fellow Childhood Practice graduate Ailsa Sugden from Strathpeffer was pleased to be able to return to the campus to celebrate.
She said: “I was due to finish my degree in 2020 but I had to defer because I caught Covid that March. I was hospitalised for a short time and took 12 weeks to recover at home. I was really ill and was left with long covid and asthma. The staff and lecturers were very supportive and understanding and I was able to complete my studies the following year. I now work as a Senior Early Years Practitioner at St Joseph’s Primary School in Inverness and was one of the first to be appointed to that position in the Highlands.”
This year’s graduation ceremony will return to Eden Court Theatre, Inverness in September.
