Summer graduation

This summer, 996 WBS graduands became graduates, and a total of 2,092 people, including graduates, their friends and family members, and WBS staff attended the buffet lunches hosted by WBS in the Rootes Panorama suites.

Wednesday 20 July

The morning of Wednesday 20 July was for WBS undergraduates. Twin sisters Swathi and Swetha Selvaraj were especially delighted as their family were able to attend, having travelled from Luxembourg. The twins had both applied and achieved places at Warwick to study for BSc Computing and Business Studies, both achieved an Upper Second, and both are now continuing in higher education at the LSE.

Before coming to Warwick the family had spent some time visiting UK universities. Swetha commented, "The Warwick campus had a very friendly feel to it, and we also loved Leamington. The course we chose was interesting, mixing technical knowledge with business studies, which suited us both. Swathi added, "The first year was very hard, but I persevered and now feel a great achievement in getting an Upper Second and I'm excited about going to the LSE."

Friday 22 July

Friday morning, 22 July, was for all WBS postgraduates and post-experience graduates. Among those attending was Robyn Munford, who studied for her MBA by Distance Learning. Her father John also holds a Distance Learning MBA from Warwick; he graduated in 1990 (see photo at the end of this feature). He was delighted and amazed to see the changes at WBS since his MBA studies.

Awards

The buffet lunch which followed the formal graduation ceremony was punctuated by several presentations and awards.

The Warwick MBA

Best overall performance
Sudhanshu Bhardwaj (Full-time MBA), Duke Manners (Distance Learning MBA),Sushumna Prakash (Executive MBA).

Best dissertation
Lyudmyla Kozak (Full-time MBA), Johnathan Richardson (Distance Learning MBA), Colin Rice and Andrew Steele (Executive MBA).

Outstanding citizen
Michael Duschl and Ian Lloyd (Full-time MBA), Jan-Olaf Barth (Distance Learning MBA).

Posthumous awards

Linda Norgrove, who grew up in a croft on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, was working for an agency in Afghanistan when she was kidnapped and subsequently died during a failed rescue attempt. She was devoted to Afghanistan, and had completed all but her MBA project and dissertation. Her father attended and was presented with her Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration.

Marjan Aleida Fokma was born in Leiden in the Netherlands and died in Lisbon in May 2011 from lung cancer. She was highly qualified in law, and her professional life in banking culminated in a responsible role in the BNP Paribas office in Lisbon. Marjan's sister attended to accept her award of Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration.

The Warwick MPA, and Masters in Public Management (MPM)

MPA
Best overall performance -Andy King;
Outstanding Dissertation - Lowri Ann Williams

MPM
Consistently High Achiever - Chris Austin;
Outstanding Dissertation - Catherine Davies.

Dean of WBS Professor Mark Taylor spoke to the assembled crowds on both days. "Each of you graduating today has successfully completed an engaging and challenging programme at a top global business school - not an easy task and, for that achievement, I extend my personal congratulations to each one of you. Thanks are also due to your friends, families and sponsors for all their support and encouragement during your studies."

He concluded, "So as you start the next chapter of your journey, please do keep in touch. Tell us where you are, what you are doing. It never fails to amaze me what past students get up to with their WBS qualification!"

Graduation photos can be viewed on WBS Flickr pages, through the links below.

Wednesday 20 July (Undergraduate) http://www.flickr.com/photos/wbs-ac-uk/sets/72157627338214832/

Friday 22 July (Postgraduate and Post-experience)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wbs-ac-uk/sets/72157627337852316/