Sisters set to graduate together as SERC Celebrate Class of 2018

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

The ceremony will honour nearly 300 graduates and over twenty local businesses and will feature addresses from graduate Emma Cousins from the HND in advanced practice in work with children and families and guest speaker Darragh McCarthy, CEO and Founder of FinTrU. The event will recognise the hard work and dedication of hundreds of full and part-time students.

Ken Webb, Principal and Chief Executive of SERC, commented that ‘today’s event 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.”

It was a double celebration for Newtownards sisters Annette Martin, aged 44, and Caroline Cully, 43, who graduated with their HNC health and social care diploma. Caroline said she was extremely excited to graduate alongside her sister.

They explained, “We are delighted to have completed the course at SERC. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my lecturers who were very supportive and encouraging. As working mothers, with seven children between us, SERC made it possible for us to achieve our qualification. Thanks to the skills and knowledge we have gained at SERC we are excelling in the workplace with Annette recently securing a work promotion. We would encourage others to consider SERC as their first option.”

Both Annette and Caroline plan to pursue their studies further at SERC and have already enrolled onto another part-time course at the College.

Sixteen outstanding students are also set to receive excellence awards, designed to honour and reward those students whose commitment to learning and training has set them apart from their peer’s. HND Manufacturing Engineering graduate James Robinson, will be presented with the Ishihara 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.

For more information please contact the college on 0345 600 7555.