Victoria graduands bring streets alive

Almost 1000 students, including 45 PhDs, will next week celebrate successfully completing their studies at Victoria University of Wellington's December Graduation ceremonies and procession.

Overall, 341 of the total qualifications awarded will be from the Faculty of Commerce and Administration, 246 from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and 153 from the Faculty of Science. Also graduating will be students from the faculties of Architecture & Design; Education; Engineering; Law; Toihuarewa and the New Zealand School of Music.

Of the 45 PhDs, 19 are from the Faculty of Science, including James Matthews' research into the effectiveness of a compound called pateamine in developing anti-cancer drugs and Daniel Crabtree's research developing new algorithms that give web search engines a deeper understanding of the meaning behind a user's queries, so that future search engines will answer what people mean, not just what they type in.

Also graduating will be Miki Seifert, Victoria's first PhD in Maori Studies since 2003.

Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Professor Pat Walsh says getting a degree represents an outstanding achievement.

"Victoria has an established reputation both in New Zealand and internationally for academic excellence and the calibre of its research and postgraduate study—Graduation time is a celebration of that excellence.

"Our graduates have a diverse range of skills and attributes, but above all, Victoria graduates are valued for their skills in communication, creative and critical thinking, and leadership, and they make a valuable contribution to the New Zealand economy and society.

"One such example is one of this Graduation's honorary doctorates, Dr Ross Ferguson. Since graduating from Victoria with an Honours Degree in Science, Dr Ferguson has gone on to become the international authority on kiwifruit biology and an ambassador for New Zealand science. Projects under his leadership have been fundamental to New Zealand’s kiwifruit breeding programme and to the New Zealand kiwifruit’s expansion to an international market."

Victoria's December Graduation will see Honorary Doctorates granted to Dr Ross Ferguson; Dr Jack Richards, a renowned specialist in second and foreign language teaching and Dr Takirirangi Clarence Smith, a tohunga whakairo or master carver in Maori carving.

Keep an eye on the Victoria University of Wellington Facebook page www.facebook.com/victoriauniversityofwellington for Graduation photos and stories, and also the new Victoria University Graduation YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/VUWGraduation for Graduation videos.

Parade and Ceremony Details
Parade—12 noon, Tuesday 13 December
The traditional street parades of staff and graduands will depart from the Law School in the Government Buildings Historic Reserve on Tuesday at noon, and will take around 40 minutes to parade along Lambton Quay and Willis and Mercer Streets to finish in Civic Square, where they will be welcomed by Mayor Celia Wade-Brown.

If the graduation parade is cancelled due to wet weather, notification will be given on Newstalk ZB from 11am on the morning of the parade, and on the Victoria University of Wellington website: www.victoria.ac.nz.

Ceremony 1: 6pm, Monday 12 December
Faculties of Humanities & Social Sciences and Law, and Te Koki, New Zealand School of Music.

Honorary Doctorate & Guest Speaker:
Doctor of Literature, honoris causa—Professor Jack Richards

Ceremony 2: 1.30pm, Tuesday 13 December
Faculty of Commerce and Administration

Ceremony 3: 6pm, Tuesday 13 December
Faculties of Architecture and Design, Education, Engineering, Science and Toihuarewa

Honorary Doctorate & Guest Speakers:
Doctor of Science, honoris causa—Dr Allan Ross Ferguson
Doctor of Literature, honoris causa—Dr Takirirangi Clarence Smith

All ceremonies will take place at the Michael Fowler Centre.