East Coast College students from the class of 2025 have celebrated their success at their graduation ceremony surrounded by friends, family and proud lecturers.
Held at Great Yarmouth Minster on Friday, October 17th, students from the college’s Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth campuses were presented with foundation degrees and degrees in a range of programmes, including engineering, sport, business, social care, health programmes and wildlife conservation. Professional qualifications in education and training were also presented.
The ceremony, organised in partnership with the University of Suffolk, was opened by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jenny Higham, with speeches from Paul Padda, Principal and Chief Executive of East Coast College.
Kerry Payne, Assistant Principal for Higher Education and Access at East Coast College, said: “As we complete another graduation ceremony, we take a moment to celebrate the incredible achievements of our graduates who have worked with dedication and resilience to earn their degrees. Their passion and perseverance have been inspiring.
“For many, this journey has meant balancing family responsibilities, navigated work pressures or embraced personal growth and discovery. Each graduate has faced unique challenges and each has triumphed. We are proud to honour their success.
“At the heart of our mission is a commitment to enhancing lives and expanding opportunities for the communities we serve. We remain passionate about increasing social mobility through accessible, challenging and vocationally relevant higher education programmes.
“Every student should feel immense pride in their accomplishments. Their academic and personal development throughout this journey has equipped them with the knowledge and skills to shape their futures with confidence. We wish them every success as they embark on the next exiting chapter of their lives.”
During the ceremony, The Paddy Shaw Prize for Higher Education Student of the Year – named in honour of the late Paddy Shaw, a former member of college staff – was awarded to a student who demonstrated knowledge, skills, ability, or resilience above and beyond what is expected.
The award was presented to Aaron Gracey, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Applied Care Practice. Aaron, an East Coast College legacy student who has been with the college from Level 1, was praised for his dedication, determination, willpower and aspiration. He worked full-time in a local primary school within an Inclusion Unit alongside his studies and now looks to progress on to a post-graduate certificate in education and QTS.
Another special award – Honorary Fellow – was presented to Peter Huttley. The award is presented to individuals who have supported the college, its learners and the community it serves.
Peter was honoured with a fellowship in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the growth and advancement of East Coast College. His unwavering dedication to the Supported Internship Programme has been instrumental in empowering over 70 students to thrive in the workplace, driven by his commitment to their success. Remarkably, Peter achieves all this while serving as Head of Facilities at the James Paget University Hospital.
To find out more about the degree courses on offer at East Coast College, visit www.eastcoast.ac.uk/degrees