Students celebrate gowning glory

It is an example of Ms Rigby’s passion and dedication to her work that will see her graduate with her PhD cum laude, or with distinction.

Her work has involved studying deepwater chondrichthyans, or the small sharks and rays that inhabit the cold, dark depths of the ocean, at least 200 metres below the surface.

He research has involved collecting the accidental (dead) bycatch of the animals from fishing trawlers for her research into these mysterious creatures.

While she lives in Kuranda, Ms Rigby will accept her award in Townsville and is taking the opportunity to examine the specimen in the labs at JCU’s Douglas campus before heading to the ceremony.

Ms Rigby is one of more than 770 students who will graduate from James Cook University this week in Townsville.

The graduation ceremonies will be held over two days this week (March 16 and 17).

The students will graduate from the Colleges of Science, Technology & Engineering; Marine & Environmental Sciences; Business, Law & Governance; Arts, Society & Education, as well as the Division of Tropical Health & Medicine.

The graduands, and their family and friends, will gather at the Townsville Entertainment Centre to celebrate the successful completion of their studies.

Venue for all Townsville ceremonies:

The Townsville Entertainment Centre

Wednesday, March 16th, 2016

3.30pm

College of Science Technology & Engineering,

College of Marine & Environmental Sciences,

College of College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences and Healthcare Sciences

• Three PhDs will be awarded cum laude (for excellence) 1 From Environmental Science, 1 from Biochemistry and 1 from Information Technology

Thursday, March 17th, 2016

11.00am

College of Business, Law & Governance

3.30pm

College of Arts, Society & Education

• Mr Ian Jessup will be presented with an Honorary doctorate during the 11.00am College of Business, Law & Governance ceremony
• It will be the final graduation ceremony for JCU Chancellor Lt.-Gen (ret’d) John Grey. JCU’s incoming Chancellor, Mr Bill Tweddell, will be on stage in his robes, and recognised during the 3.30pm College of Arts, Society & Education ceremony

At each ceremony, the Occasional Address will be delivered by:

16 March – Mr David Pearse

17 March 11.00am – Dr Ian Jessup

17 March 3.30pm  - Mr Grant Dale

Information for media:

For the morning ceremony, graduands will be arriving at the venue from 9am, and from 1.30pm for the afternoon ceremony. They need to be gowned, registered and seated by 30 minutes prior to the ceremony.

Graduating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who wish to participate will be presented with a JCU cultural sash at an informal ceremony prior to graduation. This will be held 30 minutes before each ceremony in the Magnetic Room.