The thousands of students graduating from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) this week have been sent a very special congratulations message – from the manager of Premier League champions Leicester City.
Manager Claudio Ranieri, who is with the team at pre-season training in Austria, sent a message to Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard on Friday. Prof Shellard read it out during the first ceremonies of this year's summer graduations on Saturday, for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. DMU has long had a proud association with Leicester City and is the club's official higher education partner.
The message read: “Like the moment when Leicester City finally won the Premier League, your graduations are a special moment, a unique moment. It’s all the more special because you, too, probably had times when you thought: ‘can this be done?’
“Moments like this can be repeated if you remember the lessons of the journey; the importance of preparation, commitment, belief and support of the people around you – remember those going forward.
“Congratulations to you all from all of us at Leicester City and from me, Claudio Ranieri. We hope you have a wonderful day.”
This year was the first for the new “in the round” format for DMU's ceremonies at The Venue, which featured showreels of memorable moments from the past three years, singing from DMU Gospel Choir and outside, a graduation village with its own marquee, musicians, a free juice bar and deckchairs to relax in before and after each ceremony.
Around the marquee are sweet stalls, food fairs, the De Montfort Students’ Union stall and DMU Alumni. Graduands could pick up special “DMUgrads glasses” and the special photo opportunity points created around the village were busy with proud family and friends taking photos.
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As the ceremonies ended, Prof Shellard told the graduates: "Make us proud, but more important, make yourselves even prouder" before he invited the new graduates onto the stage to dance and celebrate with classmates and family.
Millicent Sidanda, who graduated in Adult Nursing, will be going to work in Coventry Hospital. She said: “I have had the most wonderful time at DMU – I wish I could do it all over again!”
Laura Pentecost and Pat Roberts have both graduated with BSc Health and Professional Practice.
Like many friends on the course they studied alongside holding down full-time jobs – Laura in the intensive care unit at Kettering and Pat at healthcare company Genomics – and they praised the supportive and friendly learning environment at DMU.
“It was hard work, but worth it,” said Laura. “We had a good group to do this with – thank you Melanie and Nicky!” added Pat.
Posted on Saturday 16 July 2016