As one story ends, another begins, and for hundreds of new USQ graduates – including those from Warwick and Stanthorpe – their degree may be completed but their journey is only just starting.
Almost 500 Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences students graduated at ceremonies held at the USQ Toowoomba Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre last Friday, 31 March.
Floods and road chaos across the region hampered the ability of some families from outside Tooowoomba to get there on time or at all, including some from Warwick, but among locals graduating were Daniel Fearby and Claudette Ogilvie.
USQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Janet Verbyla congratulated each graduate and wished them all the best as they embarked on their careers and/or further education.
“All of USQ is incredibly proud of your success and the dedication shown to achieve it,” Professor Verbyla said.
The valedictorians inspired with their speeches, delivered by Bachelor of Nursing (with Distinction) graduate Kelly Anne Neeson (morning ceremony valedictorian) and Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (First Class Honours) graduate Bradley Leo Fell.
The guest speakers for the events included University of Queensland Rural Clinical School Director of Indigenous Health and USQ Alumnus Dr Maree Toombs, and United Arab Emirates’ Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) Chancellor Dr Mansoor Al Awar.
“Dr Toombs and Dr Al Awar were great role models for our newest graduates,” Professor Verbyla said.
“Dr Toombs enrolled in the Indigenous Higher Education Pathways Program through USQ in 1994. She has now earned three tertiary degrees, including USQ’s first PhD to be conferred on an Aboriginal person.
“Dr Al Awar, in addition to his position as Chancellor, is Chairman of the Governing Board of UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education and Board Member on the Higher Education and Scientific Research Coordination Council.”
USQ graduations continue next week with ceremonies for Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts graduands on Friday 7 April.
A little about two of our local USQ graduands…
Daniel Fearby – Bachelor of Nursing, 21 years, one of the few males studying nursing; year off to work in health care, went to Warwick State High School, full time, did a couple of subjects during summer.
Claudette Ogilvie – Master Psychology (clinical), 25 years, works at Warwick Hospital, six years study, straight from school, undergrad at UQ, only had one year off; raised in Brisbane, went to Redlands College (Wellington Point), accepted a job at Warwick Hospital – moved there recently, might do a PhD.
