Hitting the right notes as College Celebrate Class of 2017

On Friday, Higher Education students from South Eastern Regional College (SERC) gathered together with family and friends to celebrate their efforts and academic achievements at the annual graduation ceremony at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.  

The ceremony honoured over 300 graduates and over ten local businesses, and featured addresses from Pearson BTEC HND in Music (QCF) graduate Victoria Montgomery and guest speaker Carol Malone, Constructions Delivery Manager at NIE Networks.

The event, which was generously sponsored by East Down and Lisburn Education partnership, recognised the hard work and dedication of hundreds of full and part-time students and this year’s theme celebrates ‘developing and supporting careers on an international platform’. 

Ken Webb, Principal and Chief Executive of SERC, commented that ‘the graduation ceremony marks an important day in the lives of the hundreds of Higher Education students who have completed their course and I would encourage them to never stop learning and striving to better themselves.”  

Speaking of her experience, student Victoria Montgomery said she would encourage others to consider SERC as their first option. She explains, “I am delighted to have completed my course at SERC. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my lecturers who were very supportive and encouraging. Thanks to the skills and knowledge gained at SERC I received an unconditional offer to study my chosen subject at university.”  

Twenty-six outstanding students also received excellence awards, designed to honour and reward those students whose commitment to learning and training has set them apart from their peer’s awards. Pearson BTEC HND Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) (RQF) graduate Jordyn Martin and Luke Robinson from the Pearson BTEC HND Engineering (Manufacturing) (RQF) programme, were presented with the Excellence in Project Work Award.  

With 97 percent of SERC students’ progressing into employment, self-employment or onto higher level courses on completion of their course, SERC is a great example of how the Further Education sector offers a real alternative to university for intelligent and ambitious people who want to work towards internationally recognised qualifications and a rewarding career.