Hundreds of Brighton students to celebrate degree success

More than 1,700 Brighton University graduates will collect their degrees at the Dome today (Thursday 7 February) and tomorrow (Friday 8 February).

The university said that some of those graduating at the winter graduation ceremony were already making their mark in the wider world.

Award-winning documentary film-maker Daisy Asquith is due to be awarded her Master of Arts (MA) degree in cultural history, memory and identity with distinction.

Her latest film, Britain’s Holocaust Survivors, was broadcast in January on More4 to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

The documentary, made in the context of a research project for the MA, recorded the memories of a small group of survivors filmed in everyday life situations.

It explored the ways that their experiences of concentration camps still affect their lives today and the lives of their families and how they share their testimonies of horror and hope.

Several of Daisy’s previous films have won Royal Television Society awards and one was nominated for a BAFTA.

She said: “Studying an MA at Brighton opened up a huge range of new ideas to me and as I had never gone to university before it was a great experience to be taught by such passionate and inspiring lecturers.

“It has really invigorated my documentary practice and made me more analytical, confident and articulate. I hope to go on and do a PhD.”

Nursing student Jayne Parker is one of only 22 health professionals who made up the Prime Minister’s Nursing and Care Quality Forum.

The forum, which met at 10 Downing Street and included the former Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, was set up to help all those involved in providing nursing and care.

Throughout her studies at the university, Jayne has also been the south east representative for students at the Royal College of Nursing.

She said: “I feel extremely privileged and excited to be involved in the forum but also a little daunted by the scale of the task involved.

“I hope the work undertaken by the forum can have a real effect on the care given every day to patients.”

Before starting her course Jayne worked as a software engineer but decided to change careers in 2009.

She said: “My nursing course has been extremely challenging and rewarding and I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from excellent lecturers and nursing colleagues.

“I am looking forward to qualifying and using the knowledge gained throughout the last three years.”

Stevie “Spike” McGarrity Alderdice is being awarded a masters degree with distinction in performance and visual practices.

He is the first person in his family to graduate and had worked for 26 years in social services before deciding to become a live performance artist.

During his course he has given several performances, including at the Brighton Fringe Festival, and has worked with a television company on a pilot show for a possible TV series.

Orode Aniejurengho is due to be awarded her research masters, having also completed her Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in biomedical science at Brighton.

During her course she won the Fisher Prize for the best oral presentation at the First Doctoral College Conference in 2012.

She is currently a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) student, looking at ways of identifying early signs of inflammatory bowel disease.

She was awarded one of the first Doctoral College studentships which aim to support research excellence.

Sam McCreesh was one of the first cohort of students from the BSc paramedic practice course.

In his third year he had an article on reducing the risk of post-partum haemorrhage – or bleeding after giving birth – accepted by the Journal of Paramedic Practice. The journal is Britain’s leading periodical for paramedics.

All nine paramedic course graduates have NHS ambulance jobs and the university said that the course was now the most oversubscribed.

Sam said: “I really enjoyed the course at Brighton and although it was challenging at times I feel it has prepared me well for my career.

“I now work as a paramedic for South East Coast Ambulance Service and I am consolidating my learning during my first year as a newly registered healthcare professional.

“After that, I hope to complete the mentorship course and perhaps study a specialist paramedic qualification in the future.”