Hundreds attend Christchurch graduation ceremony
New Zealand Tertiary College’s South Island based graduates were celebrated on Wednesday evening at a graduation ceremony held at the NorthCity Church in Papanui, Christchurch.
Sixty-nine graduands received their early childhood education qualifications, with their commitment to enhancing the lives of children, families and communities acknowledged by NZTC Chief Executive Selena Fox.
“Our role as early childhood teachers and educators is important. Children are the gift of our profession. We are the guiders of our future generation, caretakers of tender hearts, guardians of play, champions of parents, and lovers of children. We have the most important responsibility of all,” said Fox.
Special commendation awards acknowledged students who raised the bar above achievement and strove for excellence during their studies. Five academic excellence awards were given to Maree Wright, Kirsten McAnulty, Richard Forrest, Janice Pennells and Joanne Beaumont-Bates.
Beaumont-Bates was also the graduate student representative. She shared her NZTC journey with an uplifting and inspirational speech.
“I believe a qualification from New Zealand Tertiary College is a wonderful tool in this world and one that will open many doors of opportunity for anyone who is lucky enough to have one.
“But graduation is not an end goal in itself, as I have learnt. It is, instead, part of the larger journey of life; and all accomplishments we achieve during its course should be taken as starting points for further achievements.
“Our graduation should serve as a launching point, projecting us to wherever our futures are meant to take us,” said Beaumont-Bates.
A further highlight of the evening was celebrating NZTC Advisory Committee member Dr Claire McLachlan. After supporting the college for more than 15 years, Claire was welcomed to the NZTC Fellowship of Honour.
“The Fellowship of Honour was created in 2009 to acknowledge and honour key people of leadership who have offered their wisdom to the college in significant ways,” said Fox.
“Claire, it is hard to quantify verbally the enormity of your impact over the years. NZTC has benefitted from your guidance for many years now in areas including college advisory, development, leadership, pedagogy, curriculum, research and scholarship,” she said.
NZTC staff acknowledged Dr McLachlan’s contribution with a special waiata and - in typical NZTC fashion - chocolate fish.
“I am enormously humbled by this honour for two reasons. The first reason is that I sincerely believe that my contribution has been valued over the years, and that I feel I have been listened to.
“The second, and I think the most important reason, is that under the leadership of Glennie and Allen, and Selena and her team, I feel that we are able to share the conviction that the early childhood profession is extraordinarily important and that our children deserve the very best. I believe this institution has heart and spirit, and really believes in the teachers that they prepare for a future in early childhood,” said McLachlan.