Hartley News Online Your alumni and supporter magazine
Welcoming our new alumni – Summer Graduation 2023
Welcoming our new alumni – Summer Graduation 2023
After two weeks of celebration, 4,400 caps thrown and countless stirring speeches, we are delighted to welcome a new cohort of graduates to our global alumni community.
Congratulations to all our alumni from the class of 2023 and well done for all your efforts this year. We are so pleased to be able to celebrate your successes and excited to see where you go next. This is not the end of your Southampton journey but the next step in a lifelong relationship.
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Returning to the city
This year’s ceremonies were held in the Southampton Guildhall, for the first time in many years. Graduands, cheered on by friends and family, donned their caps and gowns and took to the stage at this historic venue to receive their certificates.
Our new graduates were joined in the city centre by our 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award winners, honorary graduates, fellows and Chancellor Ruby Wax. The esteemed comic, documentarian, author and mental health advocate is an inspiring figurehead for the University with a strong focus on supporting our students. After four COVID-disrupted years, Ruby was finally able to present a speech for those graduating. As you might expect, Ruby’s speech was warm, wise, heartfelt and very funny.
After the ceremonies, graduates and their families were treated to celebratory drinks, sweets and gifts, and the chance to take some pictures in the photobooth. The latter was particularly popular, with long lines of students, who often queued up two or even three times, waiting to snap excited pictures of the big day.
Meet the Honorary Graduates:
We also extend our warmest congratulations to this year’s honorary graduates – these pioneering individuals are a key part of our community, inspiring our graduates and sharing their stories in graduation ceremonies. This year’s cohort include a politician, a soprano, and a senior NHS leader.
Our 2023 honorary graduates:
- Justine Greening, Honorary Doctor of Law
- Stephen Duckworth, Honorary Doctor of Science
- Juliet Fraser, Honorary Doctor of Music
- Ewan Kirk, Honorary Doctor of Science
- Rogier Sanders, Honorary Doctor of Science
- Christine McGrath, Honorary Fellow
- Gill Rider, Honorary Doctor of Science
- Margaret Leinen, Honorary Doctor of Science
