Waikato Herald
  • Waikato Herald home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Locations

  • Hamilton
  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Matamata & Piako
  • Cambridge
  • Te Awamutu
  • Tokoroa & South Waikato
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Weather

  • Thames
  • Hamilton
  • Tokoroa
  • Taumarunui
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Waikato News

University of Waikato students celebrate virtual graduations

Hamilton News
3 May, 2020 11:11 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Over a 1000 University of Waikato students graduated last month. Photo / Supplied

Over a 1000 University of Waikato students graduated last month. Photo / Supplied

Last month, more than 1000 University of Waikato students graduated, and while none could be part of a traditional ceremony, many have taken it on themselves to celebrate graduation in a unique way.

Last week, students took to social media, sharing images of them wearing graduation gowns and mortarboards made from items found in their home.

One student posted: "My bubble threw me a surprise graduation ceremony after work. DIY cap, gown and certificate! Super stoked."

Last week, Vice-Chancellor Professor Neil Quigley addressed graduates via video, acknowledging that, despite the current situation, students should still be proud of their accomplishments.

"The University wanted to take some time to celebrate your hard work, and your achievements in completing your qualification," said Professor Quigley.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"In my role as Vice-Chancellor, the opportunity to congratulate our graduates face-to-face at a graduation ceremony is one of the highlights of my role, and I certainly regret not being able to do it on this occasion. So today, I am sharing this video message with you – a first in the history of graduations at the University of Waikato.

Natalya Smardon Matthews at our own home graduation. Photo / Supplied
Natalya Smardon Matthews at our own home graduation. Photo / Supplied

"On behalf of the whole University community, I celebrate with you today the great event that is your graduation, and I wish you all the best in the next phase of your life."

In the same video, University of Waikato Chancellor Sir Anand Satyanand also addressed graduates, saying that while the situation does not allow for a traditional ceremony, it shouldn't affect the importance and significance of the occasion.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It represents the culmination of months and, in some cases, years of focused effort. You have every right, individually, to feel satisfied and proud of your achievement."

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate, and Tauranga Mayor Tenby Powell, along with Waikato Students' Union President, Kyla Campbell-Kamariera, also shared video messages to graduates.

The University of Waikato April graduation ceremonies were due to take place at Claudelands Events Centre and the University's Te Kohinga Mārama Marae.

Students who would have graduated at the University's Tauranga ceremony, which normally takes place in the middle of the year, also graduated this month.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Waikato News

live
Waikato Herald

Stay inside: Nelson residents face new threat tonight

11 Jul 08:18 AM
Waikato Herald

'Serious injuries': Crash closes highway

11 Jul 05:30 AM
Waikato Herald

Mixed verdicts delivered for Tribesmen accused of murdering one of their own

11 Jul 05:00 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Waikato News

Stay inside: Nelson residents face new threat tonight
live
Waikato Herald

Stay inside: Nelson residents face new threat tonight

11 Jul 08:18 AM

High winds are ramping up.

'Serious injuries': Crash closes highway
Waikato Herald

'Serious injuries': Crash closes highway

11 Jul 05:30 AM
Mixed verdicts delivered for Tribesmen accused of murdering one of their own
Waikato Herald

Mixed verdicts delivered for Tribesmen accused of murdering one of their own

11 Jul 05:00 AM
'Significant delays': Serious crash closes SH3 south of Te Kuiti
Waikato Herald

'Significant delays': Serious crash closes SH3 south of Te Kuiti

11 Jul 01:01 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Waikato Herald e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Waikato Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP