UTAS students’ graduation celebrations begin

Years of successful toil was capped off in style when UTAS graduates celebrated their big day in Hobart on Friday. SEE THE PICTURES >>>

Pharmacy Graduates Angeline Hor and Ying Oh at the University of Tasmania Graduation Ceremony, Grand Chancellor Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

BACHELOR of Medicine graduate Aimen Khan felt a mixture of relief and sentimentality during University of Tasmania’s graduation ceremony at Hobart’s Hotel Grand Chancellor on Friday.

Although wet weather forced the Town and Gown ceremony to be cancelled, students from the state and beyond still marked their big day in style.

Khan said UTAS had been incredible with their support over her five years of study.

“It feels amazing (to graduate), but also a sense of sadness because it’s sentimental seeing all your friends who’ve become family over the years start a new chapter as well,” she said.

“It’s a day to celebrate and look back on all the memories you’ve made.

“They (university) has been very supportive and understanding. When things got really tough there’s always someone to talk to, and I appreciated that strong sense of community.”

UTAS Graduates Gallery | Friday

VIEW GALLERY

Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery graduate Jessica Walls, 23, said the experience had helped her personal development, in and out of the classroom.

“It’s definitely been a very incredible experience, and I’m not the same person now as I was at the start,” she said.

“It’s been a lot of work but it’s absolutely been worth it, it’s been a beautiful journey.

“The uni has been incredibly supportive of us with literally everything, studies or accommodating us if we’re having problems in our lives.”

Paul and Joanna Healy with Medicine and Surgery graduate, Jessica Walls and Christina Walls at the University of Tasmania Graduation Ceremony, Grand Chancellor Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

Bachelor of Pharmacy graduates Angeline Hore and Ying Oh, both 23, completed the back end of their degrees at UTAS through a partnership with Kuala Lumpur’s International Medical University.

COVID reduced their time at UTAS from two years to one, but said the practical nature of the course has prepared them for the real world.

“The course here was more hands on that Malaysia, where it was more studying books,” Oh said.

“The lecturer here was very helpful, (especially) during COVID doing our studies online when it was very tough to come to a new place and do that.”

Fellow Bachelor of Pharmacy graduates Paul Arcena and Emmanuel Klonaris, both 23, said the ceremony was reward for their hard work.

“It sets us up for the real world, because you’ve got to go out and put in the effort and initiative yourself,” Klonaris said.

Originally published as UTAS students’ graduation celebrations begin