On Friday (3rd October) University College Isle of Man (UCM) hosted its annual Graduates’ Ceremony at the Villa Marina, celebrating outstanding student achievements. The event, which is a highlight in UCM’s academic calendar, was honoured by the presence of the Minister for Education, Sport & Culture, Daphne Caine MHK, who officially opened the evening’s proceedings.
This year, two students were honoured for exceptional contributions including Luke Sherwood-Walker who was presented the Liam Arrowsmith Higher Education Student of the Year Award. Luke was given the award for both his dedication to his studies and support of his peers as well as his high level of achievement, having received a First Class Honours Degree in Accounting and Finance.
The Research Award was presented to Luke Hegarty, for the research projected conducted as part of his BA (Hons) History & Heritage Degree. The research project that gained the highest mark ever awarded – 94% at UCM
The ceremony also featured a speech from Adam Drummond, last year’s Student of the Year, who shared his “one-year on” story and offered advice to the new cohort of graduates. Adam, now completing his Masters degree at the University of Sheffield, described how well UCM had prepared him for the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate life, and the exciting opportunities available to UCM Graduates.
In her opening remarks, Minister Caine reflected on UCM’s Milestone celebration which has shaped the institution’s events throughout the year, praised the team at UCM for their unwavering dedication to the success of the students, and expressed her admiration of the hard work shown by the graduates.
UCM’s leadership also welcomed an audience drawn from students, faculty, supporters, families and invited dignitaries. The Awards evening reaffirmed UCM’s commitment to excellence in higher education, providing a platform for recognising the academic achievement of the students.
UCM’s University Centre Manager, Gail Corrin, said: “Seeing our students celebrate their achievements - never fails to impress upon me the importance of what we do at UCM. The graduates’ success is a testament to both their hard work and dedication, as well as the support from our expert lecturing staff. A huge congratulations to the 140 students who achieved their qualification; an exciting future awaits you.”
A video of the 2025 Graduates’ Ceremony will be available on UCM’s website within the next week.
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