A flying affair: students touchdown for graduation

Friday, 8 July 2022

Students from the University of Newcastle will travel to Callaghan from destinations as far as Indonesia and Sri Lanka as the University’s latest cohort of graduates receive their degrees.

The Great Hall is set to host more than 1,000 students across three days as they graduate, including a group of 19 students from the first cohort to complete the BINUS program, which allows students to complete an undergraduate degree in Indonesia through the University of Newcastle.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky AO congratulated the graduates who have excelled through the challenging circumstances over the past two years.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each and every student who will be receiving their degrees over the coming days."

“Completing a degree takes commitment, tenacity and hard work. Many of the students who are graduating have shown true grit and determination throughout the challenges the past couple of years.

“Our University is committed to ensuring our graduates are community minded, resilient and are ready to enter the workforce and make a difference. I look forward to seeing what they will achieve in the coming years.

“The University of Newcastle is proud of our global collaboration and successes. We have seen students come to our region to study from across the world. These students now join our 161,000 alumni who stretch across 152 countries around the globe.”

Jordan and Cameron Shaw-Carmody:

Graduations are usually a family affair, but for Jordan and Cameron Shaw-Carmody it will be double the celebrations. On Monday Jordan will be receiving his University Medal after gaining a Bachelor of Mathematics with First Class Honours at a previous ceremony, and Cameron will receive a Bachelor of Mathematics with Distinction and a Bachelor of Science (Physics) with Distinction.

The mathematics whizzes are both continuing their studies with Jordan now studying a PhD in mathematics where he is researching the Finite Element Method and Cameron is completing his Honours in Mathematics with a focus on prime numbers.

Cameron explained, “We both have an interest in maths but having Jordan do maths at University made me think it was something I could do too.”

“Whenever I was stuck and needed guidance to do with content or the structure of the degree, I could turn to him and ask for help, which was nice.”

“I think it will be special to graduate at the same ceremony, especially with Jordan receiving a University Medal since it is such a prestigious award.”

Cameron and Jordan’s parents, Janice and Paul, will be attending the graduation. “It’s wonderful to have them both at the same ceremony,” Janice said.

“It was unusual that because of Covid, Jordan was delayed receiving his medal, which means that this is the first ceremony where he can receive his award on the stage. So, in a way we’re pleased that it was delayed because it will mean they can both walk across the stage in the same ceremony, which will be really exciting.”

Two brothers who are graduating together

Dinusha Nonis and Shimla Hamza

Many students form lifelong friendships while studying and for Dinusha and Shimla, this friendship saw them travelling halfway across the world to study together. That friendship became so strong that Shimla waited to attend her graduation ceremony so that she and Dinusha could graduate together.

Dinusha and Shimla met in Sri Lanka, where they were some of the first people in their country to study the Bachelors degree program in speech pathology. After forming a friendship, Dinusha wanted to obtain her PhD and moved to Newcastle to study.

Twelve months later, Shimla made the decision to join Dinusha in Newcastle to complete her own Masters degree. While they studied at the University their friendship grew as they supported each other, their families and grew a network of fellow Sri Lankans. This included Shimla throwing a Sri Lankan baby shower for Dinusha while they were both here studying.

Having both completed their studies they have now moved back to Sri Lanka, taking their qualifications home with them to strengthen the developing profession. Shimla and Dinusha are now also part of an international research collaboration, led by their University of Newcastle supervisors.

Shimla expressed how it feels to be able to graduate together. “We have been good friends since undergraduates and 10 years back we would have never imagined that we would achieve this milestone together. I am happy beyond words can say.

“I am so happy for Dinusha and myself because we know the challenges we went through.

“We thank our supervisors Dr.Rachael Unicomb and Associate professor Sally Hewat for their immense support and I would like to recognise our undergraduate research supervisor Dr.Shyamani Hettiarachchi with heartfelt gratitude as well as our families.

“They all are a part of our achievements.”

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