Redcar and Cleveland College takes student success to the heart of the community.
Highflying students have been celebrating in Redcar as the town hosted its first dedicated graduation ceremony.
Students from Redcar and Cleveland College picked up a host of accolades at the prestigious ceremony in the Redcar & Cleveland leisure and Community Heart.
“For the College to hold its own graduation is a significant event for the people of Redcar and East Cleveland,” said Campus Principal Jason Faulkner. “The students were able to share their achievements with the people in their community.
“The graduation being held in the borough also raises aspirations and demonstrates to all that you can study higher level qualifications in your local college.”
Students were gowned at the College on Corporation Road before parading through the town with a street band.
Among the new graduates was BA Hons Education and Training student Cherith Robinson.
The 32-year-old from Eston said: “It a massive sense of achievement to be graduating.”
Having secured a place to train to be a teacher with the Redcar and Cleveland Teacher Training Partnership, she said: “My goal was to get on a teacher training programme and that is what I have done.”
Of graduating in Redcar, she said: “It is nice for the community to share that sense of achievement and belonging. It also helps them to see that they could potentially achieve.”
Part of the Teesside University College Partnership, Redcar and Cleveland College delivers a variety of higher education courses, many in partnership with the university.
Professor Mark Simpson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching) at Teesside University, said: “Earlier this year we signed the new Teesside University College Partnership which will provide even wider access to higher education courses in the Tees Valley. This is the first graduation celebration to take place at Redcar and Cleveland College since the partnership was launched.
“The students graduating this week have shown a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication and they should all be extremely proud of their achievements. We wish them well for the future.”
Councillor Sue Jeffrey, Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “It is wonderful to see so many people celebrate their achievements in our community and I would like to congratulate each and every one of them. It is a big moment for Redcar and the College that we are having our first graduation ceremony. It’s all part of the College going from strength-to-strength and a great way for everyone to share in our graduates’ achievements.”