Sparsholt students graduate (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Sparsholt students graduate

9:28am Friday 5th September 2008

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SIX hundred students of Sparsholt College celebrated their achievements during a graduation ceremony at Winchester Cathedral on Wednesday (September 3).

It was the culmination of hard work and recognised the outstanding academic and vocational achievements of students from across the whole of its further and higher education provision.

For the first time, higher education students from Andover College were presented with their awards, following its merger with Sparsholt College in September of last year.

Friends and family, staff and guests watched proudly as the students received their diplomas, certificates and degree awards which were conferred by the University of Portsmouth and the University of Southampton.

In addition to higher education graduating students, this year's awards ceremonies celebrated the vocational achievements of the level three learners at Sparsholt College.

An honorary Master of Science degree was conferred upon Mr Peter Bircher, general curator of Marwell Zoological Park, in recognition of a long and distinguished career at Marwell and the international partnerships he built up to the benefit of conservation and management of a great variety of species.

The guest speakers were James Cretney, chief executive of the Marwell Preservation Trust and Faye White, captain of the Arsenal and England Ladies football teams who urged the students to "use your new qualifications as a spring board to whatever goals you set yourselves and don't be put off by others telling you that you can't' because you have proved already that you can'".

Also attending was the college president, The Earl of Malmesbury along with many of the 105 donors who had sponsored awards and trophies for the ceremonies.

Tim Jackson, principal of Sparsholt College, said: "I'd like to thank everyone who has helped make the past academic year another highly successful one for the college. This is a proud day for all the staff, students and their families. It is the pinnacle of a great deal of hard work and a day to remember for the rest of their lives."

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