13 July 2021, Binfield, UK [Felicity Brodrick]
The academic year 2020-2021 was like no other, full of uncertainty and turbulence. Despite the various challenges, Newbold’s students remained committed to their studies, persevering with patience while the College pursued alternative avenues to deliver digital classes and virtual learning content to see the students through their programmes.
Sunday, 11 July 2021 will always be remembered as staff and students came together in a hybrid format to celebrate their accomplishments. It was the first virtual Awards Ceremony in the College’s history, paying tribute to every individual’s remarkable academic and personal efforts in the face of adversity during the Covid-19 pandemic, and mark the last Awards Ceremony to feature programmes under the Department of Business and Humanities.
With special music conducted by Dr Sandra Rigby-Barrett, Dr John Baildam opened the ceremony with introductory remarks and thanks; Dr Emmanuel Osei, President of the South England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, addressed the graduating students; Newbold’s Academic Registrar, Serena Santona, presented the graduating students; whilst Dr Daniel Duda delivered a charge to the graduating students and offered a prayer of dedication. Representing the student body, Pilira Zapita provided the students’ response, and Chief Financial Officer Abigail Wright made an appeal to raise money for the Student Aid Fund before the benediction.
College Principal Dr John Baildam recalls how the ceremony made for a poignant end to a challenging year: ‘Not only have we been dealing with the pandemic since March last year, but over the past nine months we have been going through a challenging period of reorientation and restructuring. I am grateful to my academic colleagues for their contributions to ensuring that so many of our students this year are graduating with First Class Honours, Merits and Distinctions. I thank our graduates for their commitment and contribution to the College, and I look forward to a number of them returning to Newbold in September for the next stage of their academic journey.’
Most of the graduating students and academic staff managed to attend the Awards Ceremony on Zoom. They made great use of the chat box and video functions to cheer their peers on and wish each other every blessing for the road that lies ahead.
Once again, Newbold would like to congratulate all graduating students. To watch the live-streamed Awards Ceremony event in full, please visit the Newbold website or visit the College Facebook page.
The original version of this article was first published on Newbold College website.
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Deana Stojković, associate editor
119 St Peter’s Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3EY, England
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ted.adventist.org
tedNEWS is an information bulletin issued by the communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division. Readers are free to republish or share this article with appropriate credit including an active hyperlink to the original article.
