Final day of ceremonies sees even more success

With a record-breaking number of students graduating this year, it was the first time the University has held three days of graduation ceremonies. Here are just a few of the successful students out of the hundreds that graduated today.  

First-class job for premier league graduate

First-class Sports Rehabilitation graduate, Alison Haslam, has landed her dream job working with Premiership football club, Wigan Athletic.

The graduate has scored the job straight out of University after completing a three month work placement at the club. Alison is now Wigan Athletic’s first team Soft Tissue Specialist and Sport Rehabilitator.

Alison’s responsibilities are complex as her duties cover everything from injury prevention right through to recovery. She said: ‘My role involves injury prevention and dysfunction recognition. I also look after injury management via methods such as manual therapy, electrotherapy, and functional rehabilitation.’

And in today’s modern game, gone are the days of simply running on to the pitch with the magic sponge if a player goes down. Alison added: ‘On match day at pitch side, I provide pre and post event massage, and tending to injury, recovery, nutrition and soft tissue.’

Alison’s placement at Wigan was a mandatory part of her Sports Rehabilitation course. And, although it was all Alison’s hard work that earned her the job, she acknowledges the Universities part in helping.

She said: ‘The University played an extremely important role in my employment, as without their hard work and efforts to secure my placement I would certainly not be in this fantastic job.’

The role of her tutors was also imperative to her success according to Alison. She added: ‘The tutors are highly experienced and knowledgeable within their field - I feel very lucky and privileged to have had such great teachers.  My aim is to be as good as they are one day.’

  Allison Haslam 

 

Graduate focusing on the Logistics of Marketing

BSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management graduate, Scott Gregory, has started his professional life in the different – but equally challenging – industry of Marketing and Communications.

Scott landed an internship in the University’s Marketing and Communications department, allowing him to broaden his employment horizons and the possibility of a new career path.

Having started the internship in April, Scott is already developing a new skill set that will complement those learned on his degree.

Speaking about the internship, Scott said: ‘I am really enjoying my time working within the University and it is good to see things from the other side of the fence. I have become involved in the daily running of the department straight away and I am learning so much so quickly.’

Having finished his studies in February, Scott is still determined to forge a career in the logistics and supply chain industries, but knows the skills and knowledge gained on the internship will be invaluable in whatever career he chooses.

He said:  ‘I thoroughly enjoyed my degree and feel the hands on dynamic nature of the modules have prepared me to enter the fast paced environment of the logistics and supply chain industries.

‘I am  fully aware that the skills and knowledge acquired over my three years studying, as well as completing this internship at the University, will enable me to become successful in my future career.’

 Scott Gregory

 

To Botswana and back again – A graduate’s tale

This summer Community Studies graduate, Nikita Holmes, has avoided the UK’s terrible weather, but not by holidaying in Ibiza or back-packing around Europe, but by volunteering in Botswana.

This was Nikita’s second stint in the southern-African country, working with a human rights organisation to raise awareness and fundraise on issues from education to equality.

Nikita’s first trip – last summer – saw her lay the foundations to her work in the village of Kang in the Kalahari Desert. There, amongst other things, she helped at a pre-school for underprivileged children.

 This time she has been mainly based in capital, Gaborone, fundraising for the pre-school and working with the country’s Department of Social Services (DSS) to ensure the school’s future safety and stability.

Now she is back in the UK to graduate, she said: ‘Graduating is exciting, now my life is ahead of me and my degree is my ticket to the career building for myself in international development.  It feels like I can accomplish anything now that I’ve graduated. It is the end of three years hard work and the end result really makes me proud.’

Such is the impressive nature of her development work at her young age, Nikita has been shortlisted to do a Free Wave, fully-funded Masters in International Development at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle.  

 Nikita Holmes

 

First-class rehabilitation for Yousef

Sporty Yousef Qaisi is on his way to becoming a first-class physiotherapist after graduating with a First-class honours in BSc Sport Rehabilitation.

Yousef’s graduation is all the more impressive as his first-class honours was achieved studying full-time while holding down three part-time jobs, one of which was at the University.

He said: ‘It is a great sense of achievement. I’m proud of myself, really pleased I have graduated. It’s been a hard at times, especially with all my jobs, but it was well worth it. Now I’m looking forward to the next chapter.’

Despite all the hard work, Yousef is looking to get straight back into the world of sports and health academia. His next chapter is an MSc in Physiotherapy at Manchester Metropolitan University.

He added: ‘That’s my next step, to solidify my career in this industry. I must say though, the tutors have been excellent throughout the course. They really are second to none. I’ve learnt so much during my time at Bolton and can’t wait to put it all in to practice.’

 Yousef Qaisi 

 

First class tourism

Bolton’s future tourism prospects look set to improve thanks to first-class International Tourism Management graduates from the University.

Lauren Fearns, Jessica Reed and Jenny Ingham all secured first-class honours, making the trio three of only four graduates to ever get a first in the course's history.  The fourth is Michaela Tart who graduated last year. 

Graduate Lauren's ultimate goal is now to set up her own events company in the town and feels her time at the University has set her in the right direction.

Lauren, 29, said: ‘The course was a great opportunity to study for a business degree that was specifically catered to a particular industry. The work placement module also allowed me to make contacts and work in my chosen field and to expand my knowledge on professional level.’

Lauren’s First is even more impressive as, despite all the hard work securing first-class honours degree takes, she still found time to volunteer on several youth projects across the town. Her latest was helping to organise lots of events for this summer’s Bolton 2012 Games in association with Active Synergy and the Bolton Lads’ and Girls’ Club

Although Lauren is more than ready for the world after University, she says she will miss her time at Bolton: ‘I have enjoyed my time here so much and have thoroughly enjoyed my studies. I am very proud of my grades and have worked hard to ensure I did my best and, although I know I am now prepared to re-enter the real world, I will be very sad to leave the University.’ 

  Lauren Fearns